Brosas lauds Senate for approval of bill raising workers’ minimum wage

Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas. (Photo from her Facebook page)

MANILA, Philippines — Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas has lauded the Senate for approving on final reading a bill that would raise minimum wages by P100 per day, saying that it is a step toward acknowledging that current salaries are low.

Brosas in a statement on Monday said that while the P100 across-the-board wage increase is still low compared to what workers need, it is a good start as it emphasizes that such measures are still insufficient to cover the growing cost of goods and services.

“This is a step towards acknowledging that the current minimum wage is not enough. Hindi sapat ang kakarampot na kasalukuyang pinapasahod sa mga manggagawa sa kabila ng tumitinding krisis sa ating bansa,” she said.

(The salaries given to workers are not enough despite the worsening crisis in the country.)

“Although the Php100 increase in wages is not enough to reach the Php1,193 family living wage, this is an initial step towards putting the spotlight on the plight of the workers who have long been calling for a significant wage hike,” she added.

According to Brosas, big businesses are already earning way above what they need but workers who are at the heart of industries struggle to survive.

“Yung mga malalaking negosyante, sobra-sobra ang kinakamal na tubo habang yung mga manggagawa na kumakayod araw-araw ay isang kahig, isang tuka,” she said.

(Big businesses are earning so much while employees who work tirelessly everyday  struggle to make ends meet.)

“Noong panahon ng pandemya, mas yumaman pa nga ang mga bilyonaryong negosyante kaya hindi totoo na ikalulugi nila ang pagdadagdag ng sahod sa mga manggagawa,” she added.

(During the time of the pandemic, billionaire businesspeople got richer.  That’s why it is not true that they would lose profit just by increasing the salaries of workers.)

Earlier, the Senate approved Senate Bill No. 2534, which would increase the salary of minimum wage earners in the private sector by P100 per day.  None of the 20 senators present during Monday’s session voted against or abstained from voting on the bill

READ: Senate approves P100 daily wage hike bill 

In the House though, the response to the P100 wage hike appeared to be lukewarm, as expert economists feel it may hurt micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) — which comprise a huge part of the country’s businesses.

According to Deputy Speaker David Suarez, said the proposed P100 daily wage hike sounds good but may lead to the compromise of MSMEs, while Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda warned that many MSMEs would not be able to carry the brunt of higher wages for workers

Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo, an economics professor at the University of the Philippines, also raised concerns that the wage increase may be inflationary since companies would just pass on the burden of paying higher salaries to the cost of services or goods they offer.

READ: Economists in House say P100 wage hike may hurt MSMEs, push inflation 

But labor leaders Luke Espiritu and Leody de Guzman only labeled these fears as excuses pushed forward by big businesses who do not want to lose profits.  According to Espiritu, if the government is sincere in looking after MSMEs, it should subsidize part of the MSME workers’ wages, so that big businesses would be compelled to shell out more for workers.

READ: Wage hike to hurt MSMEs? Then gov’t should subsidize them, Espiritu says 

Brosas said the House leadership must listen to the call from the people regarding wage hike, and act on measures filed before the legislative chamber.

“The House of Representatives must do its part and immediately hear the wage hike bills filed by the Makabayan bloc and other lawmakers. Matagal nang nananawagan ng signipikanteng dagdag sahod ang mga Pilipino, kaya dapat tumugon dito ang gobyerno,” she noted.

(The Filipino people have long called for wage increases, that’s why it is only proper that the government responds to this.)