Trabaho party-list says admin’s wage hike a step in right direction
Trabaho party-list says admin’s wage hike a step in right direction | Pinakabagong Balita sa Pilipinas
Trabaho party-list says admin’s wage hike a step in right direction — INQUIRER.net FILES INQUIRER.net FILES MANILA, Philippines — The salary increase for minimum wage earners in Metro Manila, through a review that will b...
INQUIRER.net FILES
INQUIRER.net FILES
MANILA, Philippines — The salary increase for minimum wage earners in Metro Manila, through a review that will be conducted by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board, is still a step in the right direction, Trabaho party-list said as the country celebrated Labor Day.
In a statement on Thursday, the group said that the pay hike as previously announced by the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) will be a necessary step “to ease the burden on the country’s most vulnerable workers.”
“This is a positive development for our minimum wage earners, who are among the hardest hit by inflation and high living expenses. We at Trabaho Partylist have consistently advocated for fair wages, and this hike is a step in the right direction,” Trabaho party-list spokesperson Mitchell-David Espiritu said.
“This wage hike should not be seen as a burden to employers, but as a necessary correction to help hardworking Filipinos survive and thrive,” he added.
The minimum wage, the group noted, should be updated to reflect current economic realities, as minimum wages still fall short of families’ daily needs — especially in highly-urbanized areas in the country, like Metro Manila.
While the wage hike was appreciated by workers, many groups believe this is still not enough to ensure that families would live in dignity. Several sectors have called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to consider the proposals submitted by both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Last January 30, the House of Representatives’ committee on labor and employment approved a substitute bill that consolidates three wage hike proposals — House Bill (HB) Nos. 514, 7568, and 7871 — which proposes a P200 per day hike for minimum wage earners.
Eventually, the proposal was approved by the House on second reading last February 3.
READ:House OKs P200 minimum wage hike bill on 2nd reading
Last February 24, the Senate approved a bill that seeks to increase minimum wages by P100 per day. The House and the Senate, however, have not yet met to address the differences in their legislated wage hike proposals.
Marcos meanwhile said on Thursday that the government is studying these wage hike calls.
READ:Marcos to workers: Gov’t studying wage hike call
But aside from wage increases, Trabaho party-list also called on the government and the private sector to institutionalize a calamity leave policy for workers affected by natural disasters, after several families and their livelihood were affected by the Kanlaon Volcano and Bulusan Volcano’s recent activities.
Last April 8, Kanlaon erupted — its largest since December 2024. Status near the volcano is still at Alert Level 3, as there are indications of magmatic unrest.
READ:No increased Kanlaon volcanic quakes; Alert Level 3 stays
Over 200 residents of Irosin town in Sorsogon meanwhile were evacuated last April 29 after Mount Bulusan’s phreatic eruption.
“Natural calamities like volcanic eruptions not only endanger lives but also severely impact the livelihood and well-being of our workers,” Espiritu said.
“It’s imperative that we institutionalize support mechanisms, such as calamity leave, to help our fellow Filipinos recover and rebuild,” he added. “Ashfall from the eruption has disrupted transportation, compromised health conditions, and necessitated immediate attention to damaged properties.”
According to the group, the necessary support must be given to the workers to ensure that they can recover from these calamities.
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“Our workers are the backbone of our economy. Providing them with the necessary support during times of crisis is both a moral obligation and a practical necessity,” Espiritu added.
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