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Workers across Asia feel squeeze as fuel prices skyrocket

Low-income labourers in Asia among the hardest hit groups as fuel costs skyrocket because of the US-Israel war on Iran.

Published: 3:00pm, 20 Mar 2026

Fuel prices sent soaring by the US-Israel war on Iran are hurting workers across Asia. Many feeling the pinch are in the transport sector, including jeepney drivers in the Philippine capital Manila, who staged a strike on March 19, 2026. The drivers are demanding the repeal of an oil deregulation law. Higher fuel costs have forced many drivers to work longer hours to make up for a shortfall in their earnings.

Workers across Asia feel squeeze as fuel prices skyrocket

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Low-income labourers in Asia among the hardest hit groups as fuel costs skyrocket because of the US-Israel war on Iran.

Low-income labourers in Asia among the hardest hit groups as fuel costs skyrocket because of the US-Israel war on Iran.