Senate President Urges President to Certify P100 Minimum Wage Hike as Urgent
Buoyed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to review minimum wage rates in all regions, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri has called on the president to expedite the passage of a bill that would legislate a P100 minimum wage increase for all private sector workers.
Zubiri emphasized the importance of the proposed P100 Daily Minimum Wage Increase Act, which the Senate passed on final reading in February. He described it as “the best gift that the President can give to all our workers” and suggested that it be certified as urgent due to the ongoing increase in the prices of goods caused by inflation.
While the House of Representatives has traditionally been hesitant towards wage hike proposals, House lawmakers have promised to carefully review the measure. Bills seeking to raise workers’ pay rates have often faced opposition from economists and business groups, citing concerns about the impact on businesses, especially micro, small, and medium enterprises.
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva expressed support for the P100 wage increase, highlighting its significance in working towards a living wage standard. Other senators, such as Koko Pimentel and Sonny Angara, also welcomed the president’s directive to the regional wage boards but emphasized the need for a legislated wage hike to address workers’ immediate needs.
In response to calls for a higher nationwide pay rate, House lawmakers underscored the need to follow a rigorous process in deliberating wage hike proposals. They will be reviewing the legislation at the committee level, seeking input from various stakeholders, including labor organizers and unions, to find a sustainable solution that balances the interests of workers and businesses.
While the position on tagging the proposed P100 wage hike as urgent remains unclear, lawmakers emphasized the importance of following the legislative process before any such determination can be made. They stressed the need to consider all perspectives to ensure a balanced approach to addressing the wage increase issue amidst economic challenges.
