Sunday, June 15, 2025

TUCP: P200 wage hike better than P20/kg rice

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By Gerard Naval

WHILE minimum wage earners are set to benefit from the P20 per kilogram rice under the “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na” program, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) yesterday stressed that workers would rather have the P200 legislated wage hike passed.

In a statement, the TUCP said it would be better if the government would pass a law granting additional P200 pay for workers instead of having only a handful benefiting from the P20 per kilo rice program.

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“What our workers long demanded and deserve is the substantial legislated wage hike that lifts all minimum wage earners out of poverty more than a subsidized kilo of rice,” said TUCP.

“The P20 rice is a band-aid. The P200 wage hike is the cure that can be passed into law right now,” it added.

The labor group also noted that the legislated wage hike can benefit over five million minimum wage earners.

On the other hand, TUCP said only 120,000 minimum wage earners have been initially included in the P20 per kilo rice program.

The P200 legislated wage hike is currently on third and final reading in the House of Representatives.

On the other hand, the Senate unanimously passed a measure providing a P100 pay hike to workers last year.

Last Tuesday, the Departments of Agriculture (DA) and Labor and Employment (DOLE) “approved in principle” the expansion of the “BBM Na” program to minimum wage earners.

However, they are still finalizing the mechanisms to prevent duplication and ensure a more organized manner of distribution to minimum wage earners.

In a radio interview, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma appealed to the labor sector and other critics of the program to give it a chance first.

“It’s difficult when we are just pilot testing the program, yet negative reactions abound,” said Laguesma.

“Please let us implement the program first before criticizing us,” he added.

The labor chief stressed that the program is only a part of the government’s efforts to alleviate poverty.

“It is part of our mandate to look for ways that can reduce the burden and provide relief to our workers,” said Laguesma.

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