By Amihan national chairperson Zenaida Soriano
The latest Labor Force Survey showing an increase in the country’s labor force participation rate in May 2025 is nothing to celebrate, as it remains a superficial figure that is not felt by the majority of Filipinos, especially in the countryside.
Farmworkers in Laguna only earn an average of P300 per day in transplanting palay, a seasonal work which usually lasts for a maximum of two months. After the planting season, they have to look for other jobs such as house helpers, laundry jobs, sampaguita picking, construction work, tricycle driving, selling of various food items, etc.
The prevalence of harvesters have displaced farm workers from their jobs, so they have to wait for the next planting season to have a source of livelihood.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the average daily basic pay of wage and salaried agriworkers in 2023 is P322.23, far below the family living wage of P1,220 for a family of five.
A family of a farm worker in Laguna with five members spends around P450-500 per day, where around 80 percent is spent for food. “Tipid na tipid na yun. Kahoy ang panluto, poso ang gamit sa tubig.”
Based on reports by Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura, most agricultural workers are paid the bare minimum wage, citing Batangas sugar workers who earn P280 per day and Negros sugar workers who earn P333 per day to as low as P60 per day for weeding.
We reiterate our call to support the local agricultural production, provide support subsidies and increase the farm gate price of agricultural products, especially of palay.
Moreover, genuine agrarian reform is necessary to attain rural development and have national industries that would offer stable jobs for Filipinos.