Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Ten measures aimed at helping workers were among the first to be filed at the House of Representatives for the 20th Congress.Kamanggagawa Party-list Rep. Eli San Fernando filed on Monday, June 30, eight bills and two House resolutions.Among these is the National Minimum Wage Act, meant to abolish the provincial wage system and along with it, regional wage boards.The National Wages and Productivity Commission will take over in determining a “single, unified minimum wage nationwide.” “Ang regional wage boards ang ginagawa laging kinakampihan ang mga malalaking negosyante. Kaya Tripartite Wage Board kasi tatlo— tatlong representante ang nandiyan— representante ng negosyo, representante ng gobyerno, representante ng manggagawa. Alam niyo po nangyayari ‘pag nagbobotohan diyan? Two is to one. Talo ang manggagawa dahil ang gobyerno, kakampi agad doon sa negosyo. Kaya kailangan buwagin ang regional wage boards kasi since 1989 hindi sila responsive,” San Fernando said during a press conference on Monday.Also among the bills and resolutions filed by the lawmaker are the Expanded Sick and Vacation Leave Act establishing a minimum of 10 paid sick days and 10 paid vacation days annually.Other proposals include the abolition of labor-only contracting said to “strip workers of job security and benefits,” and an investigation into the alleged illegal dismissal and non-regularization if gig economy workers such as riders and delivery workers.San Fernando said his staff lined up early in the morning at the Batasan Complex to have proposed measures received.Also among the first House lawmakers to file bills were Northern Samar 1st District Rep. Niko Raul Daza, Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Legiste, and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines Party-list Rep. Raymund Mendoza.Meanwhile, San Juan Rep. Bel Zamora mentioned supporting persons with disability (PWD) and senior citizens when asked about plans for the 20th Congress. “I will be supporting the legislative measures that will help the Filipinos…Lately, my advocacies have been supporting the PWDs, supporting seniors,” Zamora said during the inauguration and oath-taking ceremony for San Juan officials on Monday at Filoil Centre.San Fernando is optimistic fellow House representatives will support bills he filed. But he expects challenges once these reach the Senate. “Tiwala ako na ‘yung mga colleagues natin sa House of Representatives, they will support pro-workers bills natin and resolutions. Hindi ako sure sa Senado. ‘Pag umabot tayo doon sa Senado, dapat ready tayo na i-categorize ‘yung mga anti-manggagawa doon. Say for example, Senate President Chiz Escudero. I can call Senate President Chiz Escudero as anti-manggagawa. Tatandaan ng mga manggagawa ito. Panawagan na rin natin sa mga kamanggagawa. We will remember what Sen. Chiz Escudero did dito sa legislative wage increase, and we will challenge him in 2028 kung tatakbo siya uli,” San Fernando said.The House lawmaker lamented how the proposed P200 legislated wage increase was not passed during the 19th Congress.According to San Fernando, Escudero could have taken action to make sure it was passed. “Sinabi niya hindi priority ‘yan ng LEDAC. Kalokohan po ‘yan. He could&#x27;ve done something about that. Even Malacañang. They could&#x27;ve certified it as urgent pero hindi po nangyari,” San Fernando said.San Fernando also said they plan to invoke Section 48 of the House rules to bypass the first reading as the bill was passed on third and final reading during the 19th Congress.

Ten measures aimed at helping workers were among the first to be filed at the House of Representatives for the 20th Congress.

Ten measures aimed at helping workers were among the first to be filed at the House of Representatives for the 20th Congress.

Pro-worker bills among first filed at House for 20th Congress

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Nation

Pro-worker bills among first filed at House for 20th Congress

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 30, 2025 06:41 PM PHT

Read More:

House of Representatives

workers

wage hike

Kamanggagawa Party-list

ABSNews

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.