House moves closer to gov’t pay standardization law

The House of Representatives has moved a step closer to approving  the proposed Salary Standardization Law (SSL) of 2015 after it was approved at the House committee on appropriations.

House Bill No. 6268 was approved on second reading via viva voce the other night but it  could take a few weeks before it could be passed on third and final reading, which requires a quorum.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the House had yet to receive the certification promised by President Aquino to fast-track the bill.

The Senate has filed a counterpart bill.

Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said he expected the bill to be approved by Dec. 15.

The budget department said the SSL would increase the salaries of 1.3 million government workers by an average of 45 percent over the next 4 years.

It would increase government salaries to 75 percent of the prevailing rate for private employees. Gil Cabacungan