LABOR Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma yesterday expressed support for the bill filed by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, which aims to strengthen penalties against employers violating mandated wage increases.
In a phone interview, Laguesma said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) supports the refiling of Estrada’s bill as it will strengthen the penalties already imposed by existing laws.
“Sen Jinggoy’s proposed legislation can serve to strengthen the existing provisions,” said Laguesma.
He said this will further show that employers must comply with mandated pay adjustments or else face stiff penalties.
“Employers will be properly forewarned and reminded that compliance will be to their benefit too, and not just for the workers,” said Laguesma.
In a separate interview, the Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) also expressed support for the proposed law.
SENTRO Secretary General Josua Mata said they support the measure, saying it is a long-overdue measure of protection for workers.
“For too long, workers have suffered under a system where laws exist but enforcement is weak,” said Mata.
The labor leader, however, said the passage of the bill must be accompanied by a sufficient labor inspection system.
He pointed out that having the strongest penalties will mean little in the absence of an adequate number of labor inspectors.
“We urge lawmakers to ensure that the number and capacity of labor inspectors are sufficient to enforce these long-overdue protections,” said Mata.
Estrada is set to re-file his bill that aims to increase fines and introduce stricter enforcement mechanisms against non-compliant individuals, corporations, and other entities.
Under Estrada’s bill, violators of mandated wage increases face a fine of not less than P100,000 plus moral damages of up to P30,000 for each affected worker, as well as possible imprisonment of two to four years.
Republic Act No. 6727 of 1989 provides that firms that refuse or fail to pay any of the prescribed increases or adjustments in the wage rates may be punished by a fine not exceeding P25,000, and/or imprisonment of one to two years.DOLE backs stronger penalties for wage hike violators
