Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 16) — Sen. Raffy Tulfo has filed a resolution seeking a review of the policy for increasing the minimum wage.
In Senate Resolution No. 476, Tulfo noted that the minimum wage increase last year cannot sustain workers, especially with rising prices due to inflation.
“It is the responsibility of the state to ensure that the minimum wage is set at a level that provides workers with a decent standard of living, taking into account factors such as inflation rates,” the resolution read.
He added that the minimum wage hike policy should be “fair, effective, and consistent with the needs of the workers and the economy.”
The last minimum wage increase took effect on June 4, 2022, with rates ranging from ₱533 to ₱570 per day in the National Capital Region. It took effect outside Metro Manila between June 6 to June 30, 2022, with rates ranging from ₱306 to ₱470.
Tulfo said that despite the wage increase, inflation has significantly impacted the cost of living.
In January 2023, the inflation rate accelerated to 8.7%—the fastest since November 2008.
