Pay hike. INQUIRER.net stock image
MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker has maintained that there is no pressure on the House to pass bills pushing wage increases, noting that there is a need to intently study different proposals.
In a press briefing on Monday, Rizal 4th District Rep. Fidel Nograles said that the House committee on labor and employment would also prefer to listen to the different stakeholders involved in the proposals — workers’ organizations and employers alike.
The panel, which Nograles heads, is expected to discuss proposals on Wednesday.
“Yes, because we really need to listen to all sides and study these proposals this Wednesday,” Nograles said when asked if the Senate’s approval of a similar bill puts pressure on the House.
“We need to listen — because in terms of labor talks, that’s a tripartite issue. It’s not only about workers even though its beneficial to them, we also need to consider the possible effect to the economy, to the investors, employers, and those from the Department of Labor (and Employment),” he added.
The Senate last February 19 approved on third reading a bill that would raise the daily minimum wage of private sector workers by P100, in a move hailed by labor groups and progressive lawmakers.
However, at the House, economic experts like Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo have raised concerns about the proposal, as wage increases may lead to either higher inflation rates due to businesses passing additional wage costs to the price of goods and services, or companies laying off workers for the enterprise to remain viable.
Labor leader Luke Espiritu, however, claimed that big businesses use the argument that small businesses would be badly hit to cover possible loss of profit, adding that the government should subsidize wage hikes for micro, small, and medium enterprises if it intends to protect industries.
READ: Wage hike to hurt MSMEs? Then gov’t should subsidize them, Espiritu says
But last February 21, Quimbo said that the House is supportive of such measures, noting that lawmakers just need to study these proposals. Then on Sunday, Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe said the House leadership is considering a bigger daily minimum wage increase — a P350 per day hike.
READ: House eyes bigger wage hike of up to P350 a day
Currently, there are three proposals for wage hikes — including the separate P150 per day proposals from Deputy Speaker Raymond Mendoza and Cavite 1st District Rep. Jolo Revilla, and the Makabayan bloc’s proposed P750 per day increase.
Nograles said the House would also discuss the establishment of a national minimum wage rate.
“In accordance with the directive of our House Speaker, we would not rush it, we would like to study, scrutinize, and listen to all sides,” he added. With reports from Barbara Gutierrez, INQUIRER.net intern