Solon wants to see workers from other regions get wage hike
AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee (Facebook)
Now that Metro Manila workers have been granted a wage increase, it's time for workers in other regions to be granted the same benefit. Thus, said AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee, who on Friday, June 30 welcomed the announced P40 minimum wage increase for private sector workers in the National Capital Region (NCR). “Sa panahon na mataas pa rin ang presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin, malaking tulong pa rin ang dagdag-sahod na ito lalo na para sa ating urban poor sa Metro Manila,” Lee said in a statement. (This wage hike is still a big help especially to Metro Manila's urban poor during this time period of elevated prices of basic goods).) “Ang hiling natin ay sana magpatupad na rin ng minimum wage increase ang iba pang mga rehiyon sa lalong madaling panahon, lalo na sa mga lugar na maraming naghihirap,” added the Sorsogon native, a former businessman whose family's business employs 3,000 workers around the country. (Our wish is for the other regions to implement increases in minimum wage as soon as possible, especially in places there are a lot a people mired in poverty). The latest increase brings up the daily minimum wage in the NCR to P610 (from P570) for the non-agriculture sector, and P573 (from P533) for those in the agriculture sector. The wage order was affirmed by the National Wages and Productivity Commission on Tuesday, June 27. It will take effect on Sunday, July 16. According to the Department of Labor and Employent (DOLE), the wage hike is expected to directly benefit 1.1 million minimum wage earners in Metro Manila. Meanwhile, Lee prodded the government to focus on creating a business-friendly environment that will encourage investments and spur the growth of local industries. This will result to job generation and further hikes in wages, the neophyte congressman said.