Increased Salary for Frontliners - COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 hazard continues but the wages do not: Frontline workers need a raise. Although the number of positive cases of Covid-19 here in the Philippines have decreased, our health workers are still giving their best on providing services. All of us know that their job is not easy. In every life they save, their life are also at risk. This petition is to grant increased salary for all health workers including all positions (e.g. doctors, nurses, medical technologists, sanitary staff, etc.) to at least get back to them the hardship they experience every day. Also, give additional benefits including free healthcare and insurance for them and for their family members, and free transportation to work.

Health workers in the Philippines are heavily underpaid. The Department of Labor and Employment claims that salaries abroad are higher than here in our state. Even before the emergence of COVID-19, the country’s nurses and medical workers are already poorly paid. One News (2020) reported that Filipino nurses are the lowest paid in the Southeast Asian region with an average of P40,381/month, which is 57% lower than other countries.

Frontline workers work hard every single day for other people lives. They deserve better for all the suffer. Increased salary and additional benefits should be prioritize.