Long overdue, labor groups say of pay hike

Labor groups insisted on Thursday that “the Philippines deserves a raise” in reaction to ongoing moves in Congress to pass bills mandating an increase in workers’ daily minimum pay.

“Philippine labor supports the immediate passage of a legislated wage hike measure to address the already much-eroded purchasing power of workers in the face of the spiraling cost of living and the continued inutility of the regional wage boards,” they said in a joint statement.

“This is already long overdue. Filipino workers and their families are appealing to the House leadership to accelerate consideration and passage [of the bills],” they added. Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, Federation of Free Workers, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Sentro ng Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines and the Nagkaisa labor confederation lauded the passage of Senate Bill No. 2534, which proposes a P100 daily minimum wage increase for private sector workers.

They also sought immediate action on House Bill No. 7871, authored by Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza, which seeks a P150 hike in daily pay.