Some solons prefer to check if workers’ pay hikes are just over a wage review

Workers set up steel beam at a construction site in Quezon City on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. 
(INQUIRER file photo / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE)

MANILA, Philippines — While they understand the importance of a wage hike, some lawmakers from the House of Representatives prefer to assess salary increase proposals to check if they are just.

In a press briefing at the Batasang Pambansa complex on Thursday, lawmakers from the youth sector were asked about President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive for Labor Day — that the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board review the minimum wages for their regions.

According to Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, there are pending bills in the House that are being reviewed and studied by lawmakers.

“We are happy with the President’s instruction to the wage boards […] and I think that’s an indication that the government and the President is listening… that even if it is still being discussed in Congress – the bills for a legislated wage hike – we still source different opinions from different sectors — especially other sectors like businesses and employers,” Acidre told reporters.

“What we want is to be careful. We cannot rush things because wage hike is a sensitive topic especially now, in times when the economy does not have a sufficient capacity to absorb the added cost of labor,” he noted.

READ: Senate approves P100 daily wage hike bill 

Isabela 6th District Rep. Faustino Dy also aired similar sentiments, saying that the proposals are undergoing a process of being scrutinized.

“There’s clearly a process specially for something as difficult to tackle as the wage increase. We know, of course, the different problems encountered by our people, and we really need to know the correct solution, especially with higher salaries,” he said.

“The House is currently in the process of undergoing committee hearings. These go through a process. We listen to all stakeholders, all labor organizers, unions and other sectors so that we can arrive at better and more sustainable solutions for our workers,” he added.

In observance of Labor Day, Marcos on Wednesday also ordered the National Wages and Productivity Commission to review its rules.

READ: Marcos presses regional wage board to review workers’ average pay 

READ: Marcos could have certified wage hike bills, says Makabayan bloc 

On February 19, the Senate approved a bill on third and final reading that would increase private sector workers’ wages by P100.

In the House, there are three proposals for wage hikes — the separate P150 per day proposals from Deputy Speaker Raymond Mendoza, Cavite 1st District Rep. Jolo Revilla and the Makabayan bloc’s proposed P750 per day increase.

However, there were also talks that the House may consider a bigger daily minimum wage increase — a P350 per day hike.