MARCOS: WAGE REVIEW FOR MINIMUM WAGE RATES

Workers protest for higher minimum wage (Photo courtesy of Ryan Baldemor/Philippine Star)

President Marcos Jr. ordered the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Boards to review the minimum wage in their respective regions. In his speech at the Labor Day celebration in Malacañang, the President said that wage boards should consider the impact of inflation on Filipino workers.

The President also urged the National Wages and Productivity Commission to review their policies to ensure that boards can regularly conduct wage reviews. President Marcos called on Congress to also pass laws that will support the administration's goal of creating more jobs.

He also once again recognized the contribution of Filipino workers to economic development. “Using the Philippine Development Plan as a guide, the government will work hard to improve the conditions of the workers. Stabilize the economy, create more jobs, and curb poverty in the country.” 

Despite the generous job offers at job fairs, labor groups are still calling for higher wages. The Department of Labor and Employment assured that it is starting to study the current minimum wage rates even though no one has yet filed a petition for an increase.

The Senate approved a bill to raise the daily minimum wage by P100 on its final reading in February last year. Despite pushing for the passage of several work-related legislation, Marcos did not address the bill in his speech.

The Wage Rationalization Act, which was signed into law by the late president Corazon Aquino in 1989 and increased the pay rate from P64 to P89, was the last legislative rise in the national wage.

Meanwhile, opposing to a legislated wage hike, it would lead to higher inflation and hurt small businesses, business groups said.

Source: Alexis Romero/Philippine Star

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