Estrada to push for adoption of wage hike bill if House version increases amount

Senator Jinggoy Estrada is willing to convince his colleagues to adopt the House of Representatives' version of the bill seeking to increase the minimum wage hike if congressmen propose a higher amount than the Senate's version.

Estrada, chair of the Senate labor, employment and human resources development panel, made the remark when asked about updates on the bill.

"Bahala sila. Kung gusto nila i-adopt 'yung sa amin eh di well and good. If they will increase, kung meron silang ipasa na more than P100 eh i-adopt ko. I-adopt namin dito sa Senate. I will convince my colleagues to adopt it," Estrada told reporters in an interview.

(The ball is in their hands. If they want to adopt our version then that's well and good. If they will increase the proposed amount, if they approve a proposal for more than a P100 hike, then I will adopt it. We will adopt it in the Senate. I will convince my colleagues to adopt it.)

In February, the Senate approved on third and final reading a bill increasing the daily minimum wage of workers in the private sector by P100.

Lawmakers with economist backgrounds in the House of Representatives have already raised doubts about the viability of legislated wage hike bills, saying this would result in higher prices of goods and services, and the shutdown of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). — VDV, GMA Integrated News