Gabriela party-list urges House to prioritize P100 legislated wage hike

Gabriela lawmaker Arlene Brosas on Monday called on the House of Representatives to prioritize the passage of the P100 legislated wage hike.

“The House of Representatives must do its part and immediately hear the wage hike bills filed by the Makabayan bloc and other lawmakers,” House Assistant Minority Leader Brosas said in a statement.

This after the Senate unanimously approved on Monday Senate Bill 2534 that grants a P100 daily minimum wage hike for private sector workers on third and final reading.

“Matagal nang nananawagan ng signipikanteng dagdag sahod ang mga Pilipino, kaya dapat tumugon dito ang gobyerno," Brosas added.

(Filipino workers have long been appealing for a significant wage hike, and the government must respond.)

Brosas has filed House Bill 4898 instituting a national minimum wage based on the family living wage, as well as House Bill 7568 seeking a P750 across-the-board wage increase for private sector workers.

These bills, however, are still at the Committee level of the House.

Brosas said the Senate approval of the P100 daily minimum wage hike is a step towards acknowledging that the current minimum wage is not enough.

“Hindi sapat ang kakarampot na kasalukuyang pinapasahod sa mga manggagawa sa kabila ng tumitinding krisis sa ating bansa. ‘Yung mga malalaking negosyante, sobra-sobra ang kinakamal na tubo habang yung mga manggagawa na kumakayod araw-araw ay isang kahig, isang tuka,” Brosas said.

(The workers’ current wages are not enough despite the worsening crisis in our country.The big businesses are swimming in profit while their workers who toil everyday barely make a living.)

Brosas cited that billionaire business owners even became richer even during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 2021 Forbes’ Philippines Rich List showing that the collective wealth of the 50 richest Filipinos grew by 30% to $79 billion (around P3.9 trillion) despite the global outbreak.

 "Although the P100 increase in wages is not enough to reach the P1,193 family living wage, this is an initial step towards putting the spotlight on the plight of the workers who have long been calling for a significant wage hike," Brosas added.—RF, GMA Integrated News