NextGen Day

MANILA, Philippines — On Monday, a House leader said it’s past time to boost the daily minimum wage to give Filipinos a “lifeline” as they deal with the “dual shock” of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic and continuous oil price hikes.

Deputy Speaker Bernadette Herrera made the statement while applauding Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III’s decision to initiate a nationwide review of minimum salaries in the face of rising fuel prices.

In a statement, Herrera stated, “We completely endorse Secretary Bello’s recommendation to all regional wage boards to expedite the evaluation of minimum salaries in order to help workers and their families weather the present oil crisis.”

Herrera agreed with Bello that the current PHP537 daily minimum wage in the National Capital Region (NCR) may not be enough to cover the cost of basic necessities like food, electricity, and water.

“It is critical to provide workers and their families with the tools they need to cope with rising living costs while not impeding company and industry growth and development,” Herrera added.

She anticipates “fair and acceptable wage hikes in their individual jurisdictions” from the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs).

Herrera stated that she would be willing to introduce legislation in the House of Representatives to assist the executive branch in mitigating the effects of increased oil prices on workers.

“If there’s anything I can do as a legislator, I want Secretary Bello and the Executive to know that they have my support, and I’m ready to push through Congress whatever legislation they propose to help our employees in these difficult circumstances,” Herrera added.

On March 17, the House Committee on Labor and Employment will consider possible wage hikes and continue its deliberations on legislation to establish a national minimum wage for private-sector workers.

The meeting’s agenda will include House Bills (HB) Nos. 246, 276, 541, 668, 2878, 6668, and 6752, which all propose amending the Philippine Labor Code to institutionalize a national minimum wage for private-sector workers.

Bello announced last week that he has asked all wage boards around the country to investigate the necessity to raise worker salaries in the face of rising oil prices.

Fuel price spikes, which have been exacerbated by the ongoing crisis between Russia and Ukraine, maybe a convincing reason for wage boards to recommend changes to workers’ minimum salaries, according to Bello.

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