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Construction workers on top of an unfinished building in Quezon City on August 24, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News

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Construction workers in Quezon City

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- A substitute bill seeking for a legislated across-the-board daily wage hike of P200 for workers in the private sector has hurdled the committee level at the House of Representatives.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/1/29/house-may-push-for-p200-wage-hike-romualdez-1442" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">House may push for P200 wage hike: Romualdez</a></div>The House Committee on Labor and Employment approved the measure on Thursday after four hearings and more than eight months.Under the measure, “all employers in the private sector… regardless of capitalization and number of employees, shall pay their workers an across-the-board wage increase” of P200 a day. It prohibits employers from offsetting the increase with previously granted wage adjustments unless these were explicitly anticipated under collective bargaining agreements. Existing benefits and allowances cannot be reduced as a result of the pay hike.Once enacted, violators are proposed to either be fined with P50,000 to P100,000 or imprisoned for two to four years at the discretion of the Court. The concerned employer shall also be ordered to pay an amount equivalent to double the unpaid benefits owed to employee.&quot;Kailangang kailangan na talaga na magkaroon ng panukalang dagdag-sahod o umento sa sahod ng mga manggagawa sapagkat tumataas na ang bilihin at kailangan lang po natin balansehin,&quot; House Committee on Labor and Employment Chairperson and Rizal 4th District Rep. Juan Fidel Felipe Nograles said.Nograles said the government will help micro, small, and medium enterprises and others who may be burdened by the proposal.Lawmakers pushing for the measure welcomed the House panel’s action, and urged the President to certify the bill as urgent, so it can be approved on third and final reading at the lower house before Congress adjourns session next week.“Sa totoo lang, may emergency talaga sa usapin ng presyo ng mga bilihin. So, pwede talagang magsabi ang Pangulo, i-certify urgent niya ‘yun, walang problema,&quot; House Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Party List Representative Arlene Brosas said.&quot;Kasi nag-spike up ‘yung gasolina at saka ‘yung bigas. Hindi nga maampat-ampat ngayon ‘yung mga presyo,&quot; she added.“Let&#x27;s put words into action. Mr. President, sabi mo, no one should be left behind. Naiwan na kami, naiwan na ‘yung workers, ‘yung magagawang Pilipino,&quot; House Deputy Speaker and TUCP Party List Representative Raymond Democrito Mendoza added.&quot;Dapat na this time, ipasa na natin, P200. Ang laking bagay na ‘yan sa isang manggagawa,&quot; he stressed.The daily minimum pay for non-agriculture workers in Metro Manila is at P645, which TUCP and workers’ groups said is insufficient to meet the impact of inflation on the price of food and basic necessities.“Kami sa TUCP, every year nag-file kami. Anong nangyari? P10, P5. It is an insult to the workers of this country,” Mendoza said.“If you have P200 all regional boards will be over the threshold. Kung P100, I think may tatlo lang na maiwan, Region 5, 9, and BARMM. The higher the number, the more regions, the more workers will be out of poverty,” he added.In February last year, the Senate approved on third and final reading a bill proposing a P100 increase in the daily minimum wage of workers in the private sector.Business groups have opposed the proposed legislated wage hike, with the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) saying it could be inflationary, and could lead to job losses. Workers groups and some lawmakers disputed these claims, citing data from the last legislated wage hike in 1990, which they said had no significant impact on inflation and unemployment.“’Pag nagtataas ng minimum wage, na wala namang koneksyon sa business ng mga kumpanya, lalo na ‘yung maliliit, ang remedyo niyan. Tataasan nila ‘yung presyo nila kung kaya ng merkado or magbabawas ng tao. Kung hindi talagang kaya gawin ‘yun, magsasara na lang,&quot; ECOP President Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. explained.&quot;Madali kasi sabihin yan. Pinapaasa mo ‘yung mga tao, tapos tinatakot mo ‘yung mga investors. Alam nila kasi mayroon tayong policy na tripartite, bigla ka magle-legislate ng wage, unpredictable tayo, natatakot sa atin ang investors,” he said.“It&#x27;s all conjecture,&quot; Mendoza said of Ortiz-Luis&#x27; statements. &quot;May I remind them, in 1989, 40 percent na increase sa panahon ni President Cory Aquino. Ano nangyari? Walang inflation,” he stressed.Asked whether the bill would exempt small businesses from the legislated wage hike, Nograles said there is still a chance to refine the bill before it is passed on third and final reading at the lower chamber.Labor groups staged a rally outside the House of Representatives on Thursday, expressing support for the legislated wage hike bills.“This is a historic day para sa amin. Finally, after almost one year, we are very very glad na the House leadership has finally listened to us and has committed na ipapasa nila ito on second reading by next week, and then ipapasa nila on third reading right after elections,” Sentro’s Secretary General Josua Mata said.The House panel’s approval of the legislated wage hike bill came after House leaders led by House Speaker Martin Romualdez met with labor leaders Tuesday night, where he gave the lower chamber’s commitment to fast-track the measure.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/1/3/wage-hike-for-kasambahays-in-ncr-to-take-effect-on-jan-4-1502" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wage hike for kasambahays in NCR to take effect on Jan. 4</a></div><div>RELATED STORY:</div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GcbX7VCMKdI?&amp;ab_channel=ABS-CBNNewsautoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

A bill for a legislated across-the-board daily wage hike of P200 for workers in the private sector has passed the committee level at the House of Representatives.

A bill for a legislated across-the-board daily wage hike of P200 for workers in the private sector has passed the committee level at the House of Representatives.

House panel OKs bill seeking legislated P200 across-the-board daily wage hike

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House panel OKs bill seeking legislated P200 across-the-board daily wage hike

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 30, 2025 05:21 PM PHT

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