Bill to empower Dole chief to set nat’l minimum wage

Kabayan party-list Representatives Ron Salo and Ciriaco Calalang have filed a bill that would impose a national daily minimum wage and empower the labor secretary to adjust the rates.

House Bill No. 7527 would do away with the current system of giving the regional tripartite wages and productivity boards the right to fix different regional minimum wage rates.

The bill would also provide for an initial uniform P600 wage for both agricultural and nonagricultural workers throughout the country, citing the “principle of equal pay for work of equal value.”

The rate would apply to regular, contractual or casual employees from the private sector.

The bill seeks to repeal Article 99 of Presidential Decree No. 442, which created the regional wage boards.

Instead, the labor secretary would be empowered to increase the minimum wage either upon petition by any labor unit or motu proprio (on his own impulse). —Vince F. Nonato