Senators back Marcos’ order to review wage rates
Wage rates: Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri acts to pass the P100 Daily Minimum Wage Increase Act. Senate of the Philippines. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri called on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday to consider certifying the P100 Daily Minimum Wage Increase Act as urgent.
Zubiri’s appeal was made a day after Marcos directed the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board to review the minimum wages for their respective regions in light of inflation.
Marcos also ordered the National Wages and Productivity Commission to do the same and review its rules.
READ: Marcos presses regional wage board to review workers’ average pay
In a statement, Zubiri noted that a legislated minimum wage hike is “the best gift” that the chief executive can give Filipino workers.
The Senate chief said he is “one with the President’s call,” but he also urged Marcos to “consider” the P100 Daily Minimum Wage Increase Act, a bill proposing a P100-daily minimum wage increase for private sector workers.
“Perhaps it can even be certified as urgent, given the continued spike in the prices of goods owing to inflation,” he said.
Zubiri believes Senate Bill No. 2534, or the P100 Daily Minimum Wage Increase Act, “will be a massive step toward giving our hardworking laborers the living wages that they deserve.”
The bill hurdled the Senate’s third and final reading in February. To date, it is pending in the House of Representatives.
Legislate new nationwide minimum wage amount
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, for his part, said it’s OK to review the regional minimum wage rates, but he said it would be better to legislate a new nationwide minimum wage amount.
“Because if the existing system needs the President to request the regional wage boards (RWBs) to review wage rates before the RWB actually acts and reviews them, then that only shows that the system is not working. The RWBs must be out of touch with reality already. They are not sensitive any more to the actual situation on the ground,” said Pimentel in a text message.
The opposition lawmaker emphasized that many Filipinos are burdened by the current daily minimum wage, which he deemed “no longer justified.”
What about agri and food industries workers?
Meanwhile, Senator Sonny Angara likewise welcomed Marcos’ order. He, however, hopes to provide “long-term support” to Filipinos working in the agricultural and food industries.
“Maganda at napapanahon itong utos ng pangulo. Matagal ng umaaray ang ating mga manggagawa. Sana samahan ng long term support sa mga magsasaka at food industries para magmura at di na tumuloy ang pagaangkat lagi ng pagkain,” said Angara in a text message to reporters.
(The President’s order is good and timely. Our laborers have long been enduring this. I hope we also include long-term support for farmers and food industries so we no longer need to import food.)
