THE National Wage Coalition yesterday revived calls for the House of Representatives to pass a law mandating a legislated wage hike for all Filipino workers.
In a statement, the National Wage Coalition said the six-month lack of movement in the proposed legislated wage hike is simply unacceptable.
“This intolerable delay of over half a year is a slap in the face to millions of workers trapped in the vicious cycle of abject poverty as they wait for their lawmakers to fulfill their sworn duty as elected representatives of the people,” said the National Wage Coalition.
“Approve it in the committee, send it to the plenary, and do what the wage boards have failed to do—raise workers’ wages by at least P150, which is the first step towards a living wage for all,” it added.
The call comes despite the recent issuance of wage orders by different Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards.
In recent months, wage orders have been issued by the regional wage boards of the National Capital Region, Calabarzon, Central Visayas, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Soccsksargen, the Ilocos Region, and Western Visayas.
“While a handful of regional wage boards have acted on the directive to review minimum wage rates by issuing new rounds of increases, the amounts are grossly inadequate,” said the group.
“It is clear: regional wage boards have failed Filipino workers for over three decades. Only a significant legislated wage hike from Congress can address this grave injustice,” the National Wage Coalition added.
The Committee on Labor and Employment of the House of Representatives held a hearing on the proposed legislated wage hike last May 8.
On the other hand, the Senate has already approved a P100 daily minimum wage hike back in February.
