Labor groups get House leader’s pledge on wage law passage

Labor groups have secured a commitment from House Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III to push for the passage of a national minimum wage law that would abolish regional wage differentials and establish a uniform wage system nationwide, Kamanggagawa party-list Rep. Eli San Fernando said on Wednesday.

San Fernando said the Speaker conveyed his full support during a courtesy visit on Tuesday night, joined by Representatives Jolo Revilla of Cavite, Adrian Salceda of Albay, and leaders of major labor organizations.

“Speaker Dy expressed his full support and commitment to move the measure forward. Makasaysayan at malaking bagay ito para sa mga manggagawa (This is historic and a significant development for workers),” San Fernando said in a statement.

He said the development presents a chance for the House leadership to cement its legacy on wage reform.

“This is an opportunity for the House leadership to leave a long-lasting economic and wage reform legacy for Filipino workers. We are grateful that Speaker Bojie Dy is stepping up to meet the moment,” said San Fernando, a neophyte lawmaker.

The national minimum wage bill—approved at the committee level chaired by Revilla—would require regions to close at least 30% of the current wage gap in the first year, 35% in the second year, and the rest by the third year.

By year four, all regions must adopt a uniform rate aligned with the highest minimum wage in the National Capital Region, which currently has the highest rate at P695 per day for non-agriculture workers and P658 per day for agriculture workers.

Labor groups present at the meeting included the United Private Hospital Unions of the Philippines (UPHUP), National Federation of Labor (NFL), Organisasyon ng Nagkakaisang Empleyado sa Railway Industry (ONE-RILES), Workers and Peasants Party of the Philippines (WPP), and Unified Filipino Service Workers (UFSW).

Also in attendance were the National Federation of Labor Unions (NAFLU), Council of Teachers and Staff of Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (CoTeSCUP), UNI Global Union–Philippine Liaison Council (UNI-PLC), Bukluran ng Progresibong Mag-aaral (BUKLURAN), as well as various homeowners’ associations and community groups.

“Kung maipapasa ito, napakagandang regalo ito sa mga manggagawa ngayong darating na Mayo Uno. But more than a gift, it is justice long overdue,” San Fernando said.

(If passed, this would be a fitting gift to workers on May 1.)

“This is a rare moment when reform, political will, and people’s demand align. We intend to make the most of it,” he added.—MCG, GMA Integrated News