House exec vows working with Senate to finalize wage hike bill

A lawmaker is pushing initiatives to work with the Senate counterparts in finalizing the minimum wage hike bill, so that it can be ratified before the 19th Congress adjourns its session. — INQUIRER.net FILES

MANILA, Philippines — Rizal 4th District Rep. Juan Fidel Nograles has assured that the House of Representatives contingent will work with their Senate counterparts in finalizing the minimum wage hike bill, so that it can be ratified before the 19th Congress adjourns its session.

In a statement on Tuesday, Nograles said that they are respectfully awaiting the Senate’s designation of members who would join the bicameral conference committee to reconcile differences in House Bill (HB) No. 11376 and Senate Bill SB No. 2534, or the proposed Wage Hike For Minimum Wage Workers Act.

The House approved a P200 increase in the per-day salaries of minimum wage earners, while SB No. 2534 proposed a P100-daily minimum wage increase.

“The House of Representatives has taken decisive action to advance the daily wage hike bill, reflecting our shared commitment to uplift the lives of Filipino workers. We have approved the measure on third reading and already submitted the names of our conferees to the Senate,” Nograles, chairperson of the House committee on labor and employment, said.

“We now respectfully await the Senate’s designation of their bicameral panel so that we may begin the crucial task of reconciling our versions of the bill,” he added.

According to Nograles, they are confident that the final version of the bills would reflect “a deep sense of responsibility and care for all Filipinos.”

“This measure is the product of a democratic process that values dialogue and consensus. We recognize that our counterparts in the Senate have a different proposal, and we are ready to engage in constructive discussions to craft a unified version that is fair, balanced, and responsive to both labor and business sectors,” Nograles said.

“Whatever the decision may be, we remain confident that it will reflect a deep sense of responsibility and care for all Filipinos.  Our goal is to assist the administration in building a resilient and inclusive economy — one where no sector is left behind. The House stands ready to do its part, and we hope the Senate will act with the same urgency,” he added.

The House approved HB No. 11376 last Wednesday, while the Senate approved their version last February 2024.

READ: House OKs P200 minimum wage hike on final reading 

Under the Congress’ rules, when there are different provisions in similar bills approved by the Senate and the House, a bicameral conference committee shall be convened, which will come up with a final version of the proposed measure.

This final version, contained in a bicameral conference committee report, should be ratified by the House and the Senate separately during a plenary session, before it is forwarded to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for his consideration.

However, with the 19th Congress’ session set to go into sine die adjournment by June 13 — and the last session date set on Wednesday, June 11 — the bicameral conference committee report should come up with a final version before June 11 so that it can be ratified before session adjourns.

Despite the seemingly short schedule, wage hike proponent and Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas believes there is still enough time to push for the proposed measure.

READ: Solon: Minimum wage hike ratification possible before Congress adjourns 

According to Brosas, the bicameral conference committee can meet before Congress adjourns session

“As a member of the Minority, I was one of those who will sit for the bicameral (meeting) […] now, regarding questions if there is time for this, to address the disagreeing provisions ng House Bill No. 11376 at Senate Bill No. 2534, actually we have time as we still have session days left,” Brosas said in a chance interview last Thursday.

“If we stand united, this will be fast, if we unite on a specific figure, it would be easier, it can move forward and reach the President’s desk.  The important thing is that it reaches the President’s desk so that it can be enacted into law.  And remember this is historic, after three decades, it is only now that we were able to approve a legislated wage hike bill on third reading here at the House,” she added. /jpv