Government workers' unions are now also joining the bandwagon for calls to increase government workers' minimum wages to P33,000 due to the increasing inflation rate in the country and sharp rise in prices of basic commodities.

Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees National president Santiago Dasmariñas said that the minimum wage should be aligned to the family living wage.

Citing Ibon Foundation's previous recommendation of P1,119 daily family living wage based on the country's 6.9 percent inflation rate in September, Dasmariñas said that there is a need for an increase as inflation rate rose much higher to 7.7 percent in October.

"Our inflation rate went up to 7.7 percent last October and prices of goods have also sharply increased, but the wages of government workers, especially in lower positions are still lower at P12,517," Dasmariñas said.

The union president also recommended the imposition of equal wages to every government worker in national and local government units.

"Across the bureaucracy, all wages for government workers should be equal. From local government units, government owned and controlled corporations, state colleges and universities to national government agencies, all should have our proposed living wage of P33,000," Dasmariñas said.

The government workers' unions are also asking for the regularization of contractual workers and a higher gratuity pay for job order and contract of service workers of around P10,000 before Christmas.