PETITION: DECENT JOBS FOR FILIPINO GRADUATES NOW
We, graduating students and young Filipinos, demand urgent action from the national government, Congress, DOLE, DTI, CHED, and LGUs to tackle unemployment, underemployment, and low-quality work for graduates in the Philippines.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of graduates enter the workforce ready to contribute—but many face joblessness, insecure contracts, or salaries that cannot cover basic living costs. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reports that youth unemployment and underemployment remain far higher than the national average, and many graduates are forced to work below their qualifications or in unrelated fields.

Graduates are told to “gain experience,” yet are offered unpaid internships, short-term contracts, or wages that cannot pay rent, food, and transportation. Rising costs of living force many to depend on family, juggle multiple jobs, or leave the country—not by choice, but because the system fails them.

This is not a lack of talent or effort. Filipino graduates are skilled, hardworking, and adaptable. The real problem is weak enforcement of labor laws, outdated wage policies, and insufficient job creation.

 
THE FACTS: COST OF LIVING VS WAGES
High living costs: A single worker in Metro Manila, Quezon City, Cebu, or Davao needs ₱25,000–₱30,000 per month for basic survival, excluding emergencies or healthcare.
Wage inadequacy: The average daily wage is only ₱441, while the estimated living wage is ₱1,200/day. Graduates are short by over ₱700 per day just to survive.
Minimum wage failure: DOLE-approved regional minimum wages of ₱306–₱610/day do not meet the poverty threshold, leaving workers trapped in low-income jobs.
Economic insecurity: Tens of millions of Filipinos live in poverty or near-poverty, despite being employed. Work does not guarantee a decent life.
 
OUR DEMANDS: ACTION NOW
1. Create stable, full-time jobs for graduates
Invest in manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, education, green industries, and infrastructure—sectors that generate long-term, decent employment.

2. Guarantee living wages
Reform wage-setting so all workers earn enough to cover real living costs, not outdated minimum pay.

3. End abusive contractualization
Strictly enforce labor laws, penalize violators, and ensure regularization, benefits, and job security.

4. Expand paid apprenticeships and entry-level programs
Companies receiving government incentives must provide paid, skills-based training and employment for graduates.

5. Align education with labor market needs
Strengthen coordination between CHED, schools, and industries so graduates are trained for available and emerging jobs.

6. Strengthen MSMEs and local industries
Provide financing, tax relief, and technical assistance to small and medium enterprises—the country’s largest job creators.

7. Ensure fair, inclusive hiring practices
Eliminate unreasonable experience requirements and discriminatory hiring practices for entry-level jobs.