Kampihan ng mga Maralita at Manggagawa (English: Alliance of the Poor and Workers), commonly referred to as Kamanggagawa (lit.'Co-workers' or 'Fellow workers'), is a Philippine political party dedicated to advocating for workers' rights and comprehensive labor reforms. The party is chaired by Alex S. Arellano.
Kamanggagawa originally operated under the name Alternatiba Partylist, but officially adopted its current name as part of preparations for the 2025 midterm elections in the Philippines. This rebranding marks a renewed focus on addressing labor issues and advancing workers' rights, aligning with the party's mission to push for significant wage reforms, including the abolition of the provincial wage rate system.
Platform and advocacy
Kamanggagawa's platform emphasizes two main advocacy points:
Abolition of Provincial Wage Rates: The party seeks to eliminate the provincial wage rate system, arguing that the cost of living in many provincial areas is comparable to, or even higher than, that of urban centers. Kamanggagawa contends that the current wage structure is unfair to provincial workers, who face similar economic challenges as their urban counterparts.[1]
Implementation of a Living Wage: Kamanggagawa advocates for a minimum daily wage that exceeds ₱1,000. This proposal is supported by research from both the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the IBON Foundation, which indicate that current wage levels fall short of meeting the actual cost of living.[2]
Leadership
Chairperson: Alex S. Arellano
Electoral history
The Kamanggagawa party list is set to participate in the 2025 Philippine House of Representatives elections through the party-list system.[3] On October 1, 2024, political content creator Eli San Fernando filed his Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) as the first nominee of the Kamanggagawa party list.[4]
