House eyes P150 to P350 salary raise
BY Wendell Vigilia and Ashzel Hachero
SPEAKER Martin Romualdez has instructed House leaders to draw up ways to increase the take-home pay of workers, adding the P100 daily minimum wage hike approved by the Senate for private sector workers is too low.
Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe yesterday said the House’s options include a legislated wage hike between P150 and P350 a day or revisions to the regional wage board mechanism.
“The urgency of these discussions highlights the House’s dedication to timely and impactful legislative action,” Dalipe said. “Our workers are enduring tough times, and as their representatives, it is imperative that we find substantial solutions to alleviate their financial burdens.”
Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, meanwhile, urged the Department of Labor to support the proposed legislation that would grant a P100 increase in the daily minimum wage of employees in the private sector.
Escudero made the call as he reminded the Labor Department that its primary job is to look after the welfare of workers, and not to block any legislation, such as Senate Bill 2534 that aims to uplift the living conditions of the labor force by hiking their daily wage.
“Nagtataka ako bakit umaalma ang DOLE sa panukalang batas na ito (I am surprised why the DOLE is against this proposed legislation). It is supposed to take the side of workers,” Escudero said.
Dalipe said the House Committee on Labor and Employment is set to prioritize deliberations on pending measures seeking wage increases, including Deputy Speaker Raymund Mendoza’s proposal for a P150 across-the-board wage increase.
Rep. Arlene Brosas (PL, Gabriela) earlier urged the House leadership to approve its version of a bill seeking to increase the salary of minimum wage workers in the private sector.
Dalipe said the House “recognizes the dire situation of Filipino workers who are grappling with the adverse effects of inflation and decreased purchasing power due to the global fiscal crisis and conflicts.
“While any increase is a step in the right direction, we must ensure that our legislative actions truly make a meaningful difference in the lives of our workers, particularly when considering the substantial challenges faced by the business sector, especially micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises,” Dalipe said in a statement.
Dalipe also shared that a consensus among House members suggests that the P100 wage hike recently approved by the Senate “might not sufficiently meet the needs of the workers” because “a mere P100 increase falls short of the mark.”
He said House members favor a more considerable increase ranging from P150 to P350 per day, believing that it “would more appropriately address the significant decline in workers’ real wages and their diminishing purchasing power.”
The Majority Leader said the House recognizes the delicate balance between supporting workers and ensuring business sustainability, adding that “with MSMEs (Micro, small and medium enterprises) constituting a significant portion of the Philippine economy, the potential repercussions of wage increases on employment rates and business viability are not taken lightly.”
“Congress is not just about passing laws quickly without thorough consideration. We are committed to enacting legislation that is both practical and beneficial for the long term,” he stated.
Dalipe, one of the proponents of the calls to amend the “restrictive” economic provisions of the Constitution, also underscored the need to invite foreign investment, saying that opening the Philippine economy to foreign investors “can lead to greater economic vitality, better jobs, and higher wages for our people.”
DOLE’S JOB
Escudero aired his call after Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma warned that the proposed wage hike, once implemented, would lead to a possible increase in the prices of basic commodities.
He said it is not Laguesma’s job to meddle in the prices of basic commodities.
“What they are doing is DTI’s job. This all the more justifies the bill because no one is looking out for our workers and everyone is just simply pro-business,” Escudero said, adding that ordinary workers have endured enough and deserved to be compensated more.
Escudero was one of the senators who voted yes last Monday to the passage on the third and final reading of the proposed legislation for a P100 wage increase.
He added he is confident the House of Representatives would pass its version of the proposed legislation so that minimum wage earners in the private sector would finally have their long-delayed salary adjustment.
This even as some economists in the House have raised doubts about a legislated wage increase, saying it would only result in the higher prices of basic commodities and may impact negatively on small and medium enterprises.
The wage hike excludes establishments with fewer than 10 employees, establishments with a capital of P3 million and below, and establishments registered under Republic Act 9178 or the Barangay Micro-Business Enterprise Act.
The current daily minimum wage for private sector workers in the National Capital Region is at P610.
