Marcos to study if legislated wage hike will result in layoffs — Palace

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. will study if a legislated wage hike would result in layoffs, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said Tuesday. 

''Muli, pag-aaralan ito kung kakayanin ba talaga, kasi kung magdudulot naman ito ng lay-off dahil hindi kakayanin nung karamihan maliliit na mga negosyante, mas marami pong mahihirapang mga manggagawa dahil baka mawalan sila ng trabaho,'' Castro said at a briefing.

(Again, he will study if this will result in layoffs if this can't be enforced by small businessmen, many workers might suffer as they may lose their jobs.)

''Kaya po itong lahat ng ito ay pag-aaralan, para sa ikabubuti po ng lahat,'' she added. 

(All of these will be studied for the benefit of all.)

The proposed legislated minimum wage hike in the 19th Congress, which was pegged at P200 at the House and P100 in the Senate, did not pass into law because the two chambers of Congress failed to reconcile them on time.

The bill then needs to be refiled in the 20th Congress.

At least 1.2 million minimum wage earners in the National Capital Region (NCR) are set to receive higher salaries next month after the regional wage board approved a P50 increase in the daily minimum wage. 

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has announced that the NCR Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) issued Wage Order No. 26, which grants a P50 wage hike.

The National Wages and Productivity Commission said the wage hike is equivalent to an increase of P1,100 per month for a five-day workweek, and P1,300 for a six-day workweek. 

Under the new rate, non-agriculture workers will have a monthly take-home pay of about P15,247 to P18,216 for a five-day and six-day workweek, respectively, inclusive of mandatory social welfare benefits such as 13th month pay, service incentive leave, SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News