Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 3) — The Senate is aiming for a speedy approval of the proposed measure seeking to raise wages in the private sector in all regions by ₱150.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Wednesday that the upper chamber is hoping to approve the bill before the session break in June.
“Sa tingin ko maikli na lang ang debate doon sa Senado and we are committed, hopefully, to pass this before the break,” he said in a media forum, noting the support from colleagues.
[Translation: I think we will only have shorter debates in the Senate and hopefully, we are committed to pass this before the break.]
Zubiri filed Senate Bill No. 2002, or the Across the Board Wage Increase Act of 2023.
Under the bill, all private sector employers, whether agricultural or non-agricultural, shall pay their workers an across-the-board wage increase of ₱150 daily regardless of capitalization and number of employees.
The bill is currently pending at the committee level.
For non-agriculture jobs, the National Capital Region has the highest daily wage rate of ₱570, while the lowest rate is in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with ₱316.
The last legislated wage increase was in 1989 under the Wage Rationalization Act, which also established the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards and the National Wages Productivity Commission.
The regional wages board sets the minimum wages for workers in the private sector. However, Zubiri pointed out the slow action from the boards.
“Napakahina ng Regional Wage Boards, napakabagal ng galaw nila. At kung hindi lang umiiyak ang mga manggagawa at magra-rally sa iba’t-ibang tanggapan ng Regional Wage Boards, hindi po gumagalaw ang mga Regional Wage Boards,” he said.
[Translation: The Regional Wage Boards are ineffective and moving too slow. If not for workers crying out in rallies at the offices of the Regional Wage Boards, they would not take action.]
“Tapos kapag gumalaw naman, ang kanilang increase ay ₱16, ₱15 kada araw. Anong makakain ng taong bayan sa ₱15?” Zubiri said.
[Translation: If ever they finally take action, they only implement a minimal increase of around ₱16, ₱15 daily. What can people eat with ₱15?]
Zubiri warned that more Filipinos would choose to leave the country for better opportunities if wages do not rise amid the worsening inflation.
“There will be a diaspora of Filipino workers. Maraming aalis ng bansa dahil hindi nila kaya ang sweldo dito,” said he said.
[Translation: There will be a diaspora of Filipino workers. Many will go abroad because the wages here are not enough for them.]
