Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI
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Manila (Agenzia Fides) – “We are aware of the difficult situation of workers in our country: the wages they receive are far below the minimum wage that allows them to provide for their needs and support their families,” write the Bishops of the Philippines in a joint pastoral letter issued at the conclusion of their 130th Plenary Assembly. The letter is inspired by the biblical passage from the prophet Micah (Micah 6:8), which states: “What the Lord requires of you is that you do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.” Regarding the theme of justice, the Bishops recall international issues such as the war in the Middle East and call on the faithful to “pray, fast, and make sacrifices for peace in Gaza and throughout the world,” where “the innocent suffer the most.” Domestically, the issues addressed included “good governance” and “the Senate’s delay in carrying out the constitutional motion for impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.” The text recalls that “an impeachment process, when conducted with truth and justice, is a legitimate democratic mechanism for transparency and accountability in governance.” The issue of justice, however, begins “at home,” the bishops stated: “The Church must set a good example by guaranteeing workers in church institutions fair wages, benefits, and humane treatment,” they emphasized in this context. In this spirit, the Bishops’ Conference calls “for dialogue between workers, employers, and the government to find mutually acceptable solutions regarding fair wages and job security,” as requested by the workers and in line with the Church’s social teaching. Among the issues that dominate public debate in the country is the question of a minimum wage for all workers employed in factories, construction sites, agriculture, or other sectors such as delivery and trade, as well as for all those “informal jobs” that often lack basic rights and legal guarantees. The daily minimum wage in the Metro Manila area is approximately 650 pesos (9 euros) for a workday that often lasts more than eight hours, and wages drop significantly in areas of the country far from the capital. Recent demonstrations by workers and unions in Manila demanded that the government ensure decent wages, workplace safety, and an increase in the daily minimum wage to at least 1,200 pesos.In light of these problems, which affect the lives of many families, the bishops, priests, lay faithful, workers, and politicians call for “working together to build a just and peaceful society” and to remain vigilant “to protect truth, justice, and the dignity of every human being.” The letter is signed by Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, Bishop of Kalookan, who is ending his term as President of the Philippine Episcopal Conference and handing over the office to Archbishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa, who will officially assume his mandate in November 2025. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 9/7/2025)
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