FACING criticisms from Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and labor groups, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday denied that it is against the passage of the proposed legislated wage hike.
In a statement, the DOLE stressed that it has not expressed opposition to proposals for a legislated wage increase for workers nationwide, saying it respects the mandate of Congress.
“It is Congress which has the sole power to make law(s). The DOLE is not in a position to restrict the exercise of this power, much less reject it,” said DOLE.
“The DOLE defers to the primary authority and wisdom of Congress to enact, amend, or repeal any law,” it added.
The department said its participation is limited to providing inputs as a resource entity of the lawmakers.
“As part of the Executive Branch of government, it is the DOLE’s Constitutional duty to provide, appear before and be heard by Congress on a matter pertaining to its mandate, and for this purpose submit its technical inputs in aid of legislation,” explained DOLE.
It assured lawmakers the agency is ready to implement the measure in case it is signed into law.
“The DOLE’s duty will be to implement the law, no matter how hard that will be,” said DOLE.
A proposed P150 legislated wage hike remains pending in the House of Representatives while the P100 Daily Minimum Wage Increase Act of 2023 has been passed by the Senate.
Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma had repeatedly said that granting an across-the-board legislated wage hike for workers nationwide could displace workers, increase the prices of essential goods, and result in a decline in domestic product growth.
This resulted in Zubiri assailing Laguesma for objecting to higher wages for the labor sector, failing to protect workers’ interests, and speaking for the interests of the business sector.
Labor groups Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) and Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) called on Laguesma to resign for supposedly being the “employers’ poster boy” against a legislated wage hike.
