NEDA exec: Wage setting mechanism 'working'

An official from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said Tuesday that the wage setting mechanism currently being imposed by the government has been working.

At a Palace press briefing, NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon was asked about the legislated wage hike amid the rising prices of commodities.

"We think that currently, actually the wage setting mechanism is working. Kanina, ni-report ni Sec. Laguesma that 11 actually of the regional wage boards have already issued iyong mga wage increases, and all of these were decided by consensus," Edillon explained.

"So, I think, it’s working right now because the regional wage boards, sila, as you know, are composed of employers, employees, and then iyong government," she added.

Earlier, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri committed to pass the measure seeking an across-the-board minimum wage hike nationwide even though the economic managers of the Marcos administration warned against it.

“The cost of living has increased all over the country and they need that decent wage para makabuhay sila nang disente. Kaya itutulak talaga namin 'yan [so that they can live decently. That's why we are pushing it]. We are pushing that before the year ends. Again, by December, we will pass the legislated wage bill,” Zubiri said.

The administration's economic managers claimed that a P150 wage hike would increase inflation and slow down economic growth. —VAL, GMA Integrated News