SENATE President Juan Miguel Zubiri yesterday appealed to President Marcos Jr. to support the legislated daily wage hike of P100 that was passed on third and final reading in the Senate last February.
Zubiri said he is “one with our President in calling” for a regular review of the minimum wage rates, but added the “best gift” the Chief Executive can give to workers is a legislated wage increase.
In his Labor Day message last Wednesday, Marcos ordered all Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) to review minimum wage rates in all regions with due consideration to the impact of inflation.
“In tandem with this, I also urgently appeal to our President to consider Senate Bill No. 2534 or the P100 Daily Minimum Wage Increase Act which will be a massive step forward in giving our hardworking laborers the living wages that they deserve,” Zubiri said in a statement.
“Perhaps, it can even be certified as urgent, given the continued spike in the prices of goods owing to inflation,” he added.
The Senate has already passed on third and final reading SBN 2534 while a counterpart measure is still pending in the House of Representatives.
Zubiri said a legislated wage increase can be timely after the country recorded a 3.7 increase in the inflation rate last March, with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas projecting an inflation rate between 3.5 to 4.3 percent for April.
“Our inflation rates are continuing to trend upward at a rate that the wage boards have not yet been able to keep up with,” he said.
“So, our workers, despite making massive contributions to our industries, are still dealing with wages that are not enough to cover their needs,” he added.
Zubiri also expressed hopes the House of Representatives could work for the immediate passage of the Senate bill’s counterpart measure.
“All we need is the House counterpart measure and this will be immediately felt across the sector,” Zubiri said, adding the bill will “simply augment” the wage hikes implemented by the wage boards and the succeeding wage increases will remain the responsibility of the wage boards.
Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel III said it is better to legislate a new national minimum wage rate.
“Because if the existing system needs the President to request the regional wage boards to review wage rates before the RWB actually acts and reviews them, then that only shows that the system is not working,” Pimentel said in a Viber message to the media.
He said the RWBs “must be out of touch with reality” as they are apparently not sensitive to the actual situation on the ground.
“Many of our people are experiencing hardships, including those who are employed because the minimum wage rate is not just anymore,” Pimentel said.
Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara said the President’s instruction to the RWBs is good but it should be supported with long-term solutions like assistance to farmers and the food industry “para magmura at di na tumuloy ang pag-aangkat lagi ng pagkain (so the prices of food will go down and the country need not resort to importation of food).”
Sen. Francis Tolentino said the President’s order can help workers cope with the current inflation “bearing in mind the employers’ sustainable business position.”
“At the same time, I call for a price freeze of basic commodities to include rice for the duration of El Nino,” Tolentino said.
‘EMPTY PROMISES’
The militant Makabayan bloc slammed the President for his “empty promises” to the working class on Labor Day, saying he should have certified as urgent the proposed legislated wage increase for private sector workers instead of just ordering a review of the minimum wage rates in all regions.
“President Marcos Jr. is avoiding certifying as urgent the wage hike bills that are pending at the House. I’m sure he knows that there are bills filed because the Senate has passed its version, they have a wage hike bill. The House also has different versions,” Rep. Raoul Manuel (PL, Kabataan) told a press conference.
The President, during the Labor Day celebration in Malacañang, also directed the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) to review its rules to ensure a regular and predictable schedule of wage reviews, issuances, and effectivity to reduce uncertainty and enhance fairness for all stakeholders.
In response, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) ordered all RTWPBs to review their respective minimum wage rates.
“Why is the President still in the review phase? Can’t he see inflation? The calls of workers? The hearing here in Congress?”
Castro said, adding wage boards have long been “useless and we want to have it abolished.”
The Senate-approved bills call for a P100 daily wage increase, which is being opposed by some employers like the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) which is led by Sergio Ortiz-Luiz Jr.
The House Committee on Labor and Employment has started hearing various bills seeking across-the-board wage increases for workers in the private sector, following the Senate’s approval of a measure setting a P100 daily minimum wage hike.
The panel chaired by Rizal Rep. Fidel Nograles has prioritized deliberations on pending measures seeking wage increases, led by Deputy Speaker Raymund Mendoza’s House Bill No. 7871 and Cavite Rep. Jolo Revilla’s House Bill No. 514, both seeking a P150 across-the-board wage increase for private sector workers.
House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe earlier said the House’s options are from P150 to P350 a day wage hike or revisions to the regional wage board mechanism.
Rep. Arlene Brosas (PL, Gabriela), also a member of the Makabayan bloc, has been batting for the passage of her HB No. 7568 which seeks a P750 minimum wage hike “to attain a living wage.” The Makabayan bloc has also filed House Bill 4898 seeking a “National Minimum Wage.”
“President Marcos Jr.’s speech on Labor Day appears to be a recycled version of his previous year’s remarks, yet it remains devoid of concrete actions to improve the dire plight of Filipino workers,” Brosas said. “During his two-year tenure, the President has failed to address pressing issues such as union busting, persistently low wages, and the lack of quality employment opportunities, which continue to plague the working class.”
While the President called on the RTWPBs to review minimum wages regionally, the lawmaker said this approach fails to recognize the glaring disparities in living standards across the nation.
“Minimum wages should be set nationally to ensure fair compensation for all workers, irrespective of their geographical location. The current ‘wage rationalization’ system has resulted in over 1,000 disparate wage levels, leaving many workers struggling to make ends meet,” Rep. Brosas said.
Brosas said the President has been quick to push for the immediate passage of laws like the Maharlika Investment Fund and the resolution calling for economic Charter Change, but bills seeking to increase wages have been gathering dust.
“Filipino workers deserve more than empty promises and lip service. It’s time for President Marcos Jr. to translate his words into meaningful action by prioritizing legislation that uplifts the working class,” Brosas said.
‘NO FALSE HOPES’
A day after being given marching orders by the President, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) assured workers that all RTWPBs will begin a review of their respective minimum wage rates.
In a radio interview, labor chief Bienvenido Laguesma said he is guaranteeing the directives issued by Marcos won’t give false hopes to the labor sector.
“It will not be false hopes. I am assuring you that the directive that 60 days before the anniversary date (of the wage order) there will already be a review; and before the anniversary date there will be a decision reached, will be accomplished,” said Laguesma.
“We will make sure that the President’s directives will be fully implemented,” he added.
Asked if this would mean that workers could expect a new round of wage orders soon, the labor chief expressed optimism.
“Based on previous instances, there have always been increases in wages,” said Laguesma.
‘INSUFFICIENT’ MECHANISMS
The Nagkaisa! Labor Coalition (NAGKAISA) said the order issued by Marcos is not the response to the call being made by the workers.
In a statement, the NAGKAISA said it is not amenable to the continued dependence of the Marcos administration to the minimum wage setting done through the regional wage boards.
“We are afraid the President was not truly informed by his Cabinet on how the regional wage boards have effectively kept minimum wages below the poverty thresholds during the last 35 years,” said NAGKAISA chief Sonny Matula.
“The current system under (the) RTWPB is insufficient to meet the basic needs of Filipino workers,” he added.
Matula said what the workers need is Presidential certification for the wage hike bills now pending before Congress.
“We find it more imperative that our legislators act swiftly to pass the P150 wage hike bill,” said Matula.
“While the President did not specifically mention a legislative wage increase in his speech yesterday, he can do so anytime as it is within his powers and discretion,” Matula added.
The Marikina government said 10 jobseekers were hired on the spot during the Labor Day Job Fair at SM-Marikina last Wednesday. They also received a P2,000 allowance each from Marikina First District Rep. Maan Teodoro that they can use for their job requirements. — With Wendell Vigilia, Gerard Naval and Christian Oineza
