120,000 Philippine garment workers at risk over pay hike

O Conwep employs around 65 per cent of the local garments industry’s over 180,000 employees who work in factories that make clothes for international brands. - PDI

MANILA: A local group of garment exporters warned on Tuesday (Feb 27) that a new wage hike would devastate their industry, with data pointing to over 120,000 jobs getting wiped out in a sector already on a downward spiral due to softening global demand.

Confederation of Wearable Exporters of the Philippines (Conwep) executive director Maritess Jocson-Agoncillo said that as much as two-thirds of the 182,600 currently employed by the industry could end up losing their jobs should a legislated salary increase push through.