Senate committed to pass minimum wage hike bill before sine die adjournment — Zubiri

The Senate is committed to pass a bill that will increase the minimum wage in the country before the sine die adjournment on June 2, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Wednesday.

“[The bill] has the support of the Senate President, the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader…in support of a legislated wage hike.  So, sa tingin ko, maikli na lang po ang debate doon sa Senado, [I think there will be a shorter debate on this] and we’re committed to hopefully pass this before the break,” Zubiri said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.

”As far as [I] and many of my colleagues are concerned, we want to make this a stand, a statement that the Senate is looking out for the welfare of our workers. It is not a political gimmick. Hindi po ito political gimmick,” he added.

The sessions in Congress will resume on May 8 and will adjourn sine die on June 2.

While he is pushing for a legislative wage hike, Zubiri said they will still hear the concerns of the business sector, especially the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“Ang pakiusap po ni Senator Jinggoy Estrada sa akin, [he is the] chairman ng Committee on Labor – tignan natin kung puwede nating gawing graduated for micro and small and medium enterprises. Para sa ganoon, ‘yong mga livelihood rin ng mga maliliit na negosyo at livelihood ng ating mga MSMEs ay hindi apektado,” he said.

[What Senator Jinggoy is asking is if it would be possible if (the increase) will be graduated for micro and small medium enterprises, so that the livelihood of our MSMEs won’t be affected.]

“Dahil malaki naman talaga ‘pag almost P3,000 ang dagdag sa sweldo ng iba’t ibang mga workers nila.  So, we can do a graduated [increase] depending on the total income generated by the corporation,” he added.

Zubiri said they will “look for a balance” so they can pass the measure as early as possible.

In the same forum, Zubiri took a swipe at the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards for the alleged slow resolution of petitions to increase the daily salary of workers.

“Napakahina ng regional wage boards, napakabagal ng galaw nila. At kung hindi lang umiiyak at nagra-rally ang mga manggagawa sa ibat-ibang tanggapan ng regional wage boards, hindi po gumagalaw ang ating mga regional wage boards. Pag gumalaw naman, ang kanilang increase ay P16, P15 kada araw. Ano po ang makakain ng tao sa P15,” he said.

“Alam ninyo po ganito mangyayari dyan, there will be a diaspora of Filipino workers. Maraming aalis ng bansa dahil hindi nila kaya ang mga sweldo na tinatanggap nila dito,” he added. 

He also observed that Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma is not calling on the regional wage boards to fast-track the resolution of petitions to increase the minimum wage for workers.

“I appeal to the Secretary, I understand his position na kailangan may balanse sa labor may balanse sa management at pagmamay-ari ng mga kumpanyang ito, but I have yet to hear from the Secretary his appeal to the regional wage boards to increase rates,” Zubiri said.

Earlier this week, Estrada announced that the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development will tackle the bills seeking to increase the minimum wage in the country on May 10.

Among the measures that are expected to be tackled are the bill seeking to reform the system of increasing the minimum wage, the bill seeking to provide P150 across the board wage increase and the bill amending the Wage Rationalization Act, which will impose penalties against employers who do not follow the daily wage increases.

In March, Zubiri filed Senate Bill 2002 which proposes a P150.00 across the board increase in the minimum wage of workers in the private sector to cover food, water, fuel, electricity, clothing, transportation, rent, communications, and other personal needs. — RSJ/VBL, GMA Integrated News