https://www.philstar.

com/headlines/2024/02/11/2332466/senate-eyes-ok-p100-minimum-wage-hike

Senate eyes OK of P100 minimum

wage hike
Cecille Suerte Felipe - The Philippine Star
February 11, 2024 | 9:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Senators are hoping to approve this week the

proposed P100 increase for minimum wage earners as a Valentine’s gift to
Filipino workers, Sen. Nancy Binay said yesterday.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and other senators are supportive of the
proposal to provide a P100 increase for minimum wage earners, Binay said.

“To me, this P100 minimum wage increase might be a good Valentine’s gift to
our kababayan,” Binay said in an interview over dwIZ.

“Let’s see, this might be approved this week,” she added.

Considered one of the top priorities of the Senate, the proposed measure is
estimated to benefit over 4.2 million minimum wage earners.

“Like the Senate President said, this is a priority measure that we want
passed. In a survey, this P100 minimum wage increase is the number three
concern of our kababayan on how to increase their income so they can have
funds for their needs,” Binay continued.

She expressed belief that the business sector is amenable to the proposed
measure, which will exempt small and medium enterprises.

She noted that the business sector will not be burdened, as Congress has
already passed measures on decreasing corporate taxes. “It’s the time for
them to make sacrifices.”

The senator, however, could not say whether the proposal has a counterpart
in the House of Representatives. Under the procedure, before a bill becomes
a law, both Houses must pursue a similar measure, then their representatives
will meet in a bicameral conference to harmonize conflicting provisions then
forward it to the President for signature.

Last Wednesday, the Senate panel endorsed to the plenary the proposed
measure seeking a P100 daily minimum wage increase for private sector
workers in the entire country.

Zubiri, the principal author of the wage increase, enjoined his senator-
colleagues to support the passage of Senate Bill 2534, which was co-
authored by Binay, Senators Bong Revilla Jr., Loren Legarda, Bong Go and
Jinggoy Estrada.
“Ever since we filed our bill for a P150 across-the-board wage increase, our
compatriots have been asking me every day, ‘Senator Migz, when will be the
wage increase that you were saying before?’” Zubiri said in his co-
sponsorship speech.

“Calls for (a wage increase) became louder right when the issue of the
people’s initiative for Charter change began heating up,” he said. “Many are
asking, why not just prioritize the wage increase instead?”
Zubiri said that “here in the Senate, there have been rallies with the cry, ‘No to
Cha-cha, yes to wage increase’.”
In his sponsorship speech, Estrada said the goal of the labor committee – and
the collective conscience of the Senate – is to update the minimum wage by
P100 for workers in the private sector.

Under this measure, Estrada said all employees in the private sector in the
entire country, whether agricultural or non-agricultural, are entitled to a P100
minimum wage increase. This would guarantee an increased daily pay for
around 4.2 million minimum wage earners.

JUAN MIGUEL ZUBIRI

Senate OKs on second reading P100
wage hike
Cecille Suerte Felipe - The Philippine Star
February 15, 2024 | 12:00am

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/02/15/2333461/senate-oks-second-reading-p100-wage-hike

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate approved on second reading yesterday a

bill seeking a P100 daily minimum wage increase for private sector workers –
a Valentine’s gift to minimum wage earners.

During plenary session, senators unanimously approved Senate Bill 2534

under Committee Report No. 190, a measure which, if it becomes law, could
be the first since 1989 that a legislated pay hike would be implemented
nationwide.

“This is our Valentine’s Day gift to all our workers,” Senate President Juan
Miguel Zubiri said, hailing the passage of a landmark measure mandating an
across-the-board increase of P100 in the daily minimum wage of workers in
the private sector.

“This is for them (workers). I think it will be a perfect timing because today is
the day of hearts. It’s the day of love and sharing,” the Senate chief said.

Employers have consistently opposed a legislated wage hike. The law leaves
wage setting to regional tripartite wages and productivity boards.

The Senate President thanked his colleagues for supporting the measure and
sharing his vision of uplifting the living conditions of Filipino families, citing in
particular Sen. Jinggoy Estrada who shepherded the bill’s passage.

Zubiri said he expects the measure to hurdle third and final reading next week
and appealed to members of the House of Representatives to do their part
and pass a counterpart measure.

“We feel that it’s time to help increase the minimum wage of our workers,
particularly those in the Visayas and Mindanao who are currently earning
P360 a day,” Zubiri said.
House looks into higher hike for
minimum wage, its repercussions
By Filane Mikee Cervantes

February 15, 2024, 7:23 pm

https://pna.gov.ph/articles/1218958

MANILA – The House of Representatives is eyeing a higher increase in the daily

minimum wage for private sector workers from the PHP100 proposed by the Senate
while balancing the interests of workers and small businesses.

In a press conference on Thursday, House Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin lauded
the Senate for approving the PHP100 daily wage hike bill on second reading, but the
amount is still insufficient to meet the basic needs of workers' families.

“Naipasa nila 'yung PHP100 wage hike. Iyan nga ay patuloy na dini-delibarate dito sa
Kongreso kasi maganda ang intensyon. Pero parang mababa 'yung PHP100. Kasi sa
mahal ng mga bilihin ngayon, parang hindi siya sang-ayon sa pangangailangan ng
taumbayan (They passed the PHP100 wage hike. This proposal is being deliberated in
Congress because the intention is good. But PHP100 is relatively low. Because of how
expensive basic commodities are, the amount may fall short of the actual needs of the
citizens),” Garin said.

She said the House is looking into the possibility of a PHP350 wage hike.

She, however, stressed that the proposal should also take into consideration the
interests of workers and private companies alike, especially those from micro, small, and
medium enterprises (MSMEs) that comprise over 90 percent of all businesses in the
country and employ millions of Filipinos.

“Pero andun kase 'yung balance. Magandang gumawa ng batas pero mahirap magpaasa
kung walang pag-asa. Kasi pag tinaas natin 'yung sweldo, dapat 'yung kaya ng ating
mga negosyante, e sa Pilipinas, 98 to 99 percent of the business sector are MSMEs
(There should be a balance. It's good to craft laws but it would be tough to pass if
there's no hope. Once we hiked the wages, the businessmen should afford the hike, in
thebPhilippines,98 to 99 percent of the business sector are MSMEs)," she said.

She added that Congress should also look into the potential repercussions of passing a
legislated wage hike, such as business closures and layoffs.

"Ano ba 'yung katotohanan post-pandemic? Globally, sa buong mundo, hindi lamang

po yan sa Pilipinas, 30 to 40 percent ng income, gross income ng bawat negosyante ay
nabawasan. (What is the post-pandemic reality? Globally, not just in the Philippines,
business revenues dropped by 30 to 40 percent)," she said. (PNA)