Manila Bulletin
Philippines
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Senate to pursue bill increasing minimum daily wage for all workers nationwide—Zubiri
Philippines
National
Senate to pursue bill increasing minimum daily wage for all workers nationwide—Zubiri
Senate to pursue bill increasing minimum daily wage for all workers nationwide—Zubiri
Published Jul 16, 2023 03:00 am
Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri said the Senate is committed to pass the bill seeking to increase the minimum daily wage for all workers nationwide.
Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri (Senate PRIB Photo)
With the release of the most recent Pulse Asia nationwide survey a few days ago, Zubiri said the Senate will listen to the Filipino people and fulfill its mandate of advancing their welfare. “Yan ang kailangan nating tutukan at pangako ko po yan (That is something we need to focus on and I promise that). The Senate will make a stand on this issue,” Zubiri said in a DWIZ interview over the weekend. “Alam ko maraming magagalit sa ating mga negosyante, but share-share lang. Kailangan din po nilang mag-share ng biyaya sa ating mga manggagawa (I know that many companies will get angry, but we need to share. We also need to share their blessings to our workers),” he said. The latest Pulse Asia survey undertaken from June 19 to 23 show that increasing the pay of workers ranked second among the top most urgent national concerns at 44 percent, after controlling inflation, which stood at 63 percent. The same survey also show that 97 percent of the respondents agree to the proposal to increase the P150 daily minimum wage of workers in the private sector. According to Zubiri, this particular question was a “rider” that his office pushed to be included in the Pulse Asia survey question when asked whether or not they are in favor of a P150 wage hike nationwide. The results were “astounding,” the Senate leader said, as almost a hundred percent of the respondents clamor for a P150 wage increase among private sector workers in Metro Manila. Zubiri said he will use the recent Pulse Asia survey as “Exhibit A” to convince his colleagues to support the measure when the Senate resumes deliberation on the legislated wage hike. The Senate is set to resume regular sessions on Monday, July 24. “We can make it graduated. For example, in the NCR (National Capital Region) we can add P100. For Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, let’s make it P150 so that we can level the playing field. Or we can make it P110 in Metro Manila, then P150 for the rest),” Zubiri explained. Zubiri has said he is open to a P100 daily wage increase in Metro Manila since the National Wages Productivity Commission (NWPC) has approved a P40 increase in the minimum wage for private sector workers last June. The order took effect on Saturday, July 15 and is expected to directly benefit 1.1 million minimum wage earners in NCR.
Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri (Senate PRIB Photo)
With the release of the most recent Pulse Asia nationwide survey a few days ago, Zubiri said the Senate will listen to the Filipino people and fulfill its mandate of advancing their welfare. “Yan ang kailangan nating tutukan at pangako ko po yan (That is something we need to focus on and I promise that). The Senate will make a stand on this issue,” Zubiri said in a DWIZ interview over the weekend. “Alam ko maraming magagalit sa ating mga negosyante, but share-share lang. Kailangan din po nilang mag-share ng biyaya sa ating mga manggagawa (I know that many companies will get angry, but we need to share. We also need to share their blessings to our workers),” he said. The latest Pulse Asia survey undertaken from June 19 to 23 show that increasing the pay of workers ranked second among the top most urgent national concerns at 44 percent, after controlling inflation, which stood at 63 percent. The same survey also show that 97 percent of the respondents agree to the proposal to increase the P150 daily minimum wage of workers in the private sector. According to Zubiri, this particular question was a “rider” that his office pushed to be included in the Pulse Asia survey question when asked whether or not they are in favor of a P150 wage hike nationwide. The results were “astounding,” the Senate leader said, as almost a hundred percent of the respondents clamor for a P150 wage increase among private sector workers in Metro Manila. Zubiri said he will use the recent Pulse Asia survey as “Exhibit A” to convince his colleagues to support the measure when the Senate resumes deliberation on the legislated wage hike. The Senate is set to resume regular sessions on Monday, July 24. “We can make it graduated. For example, in the NCR (National Capital Region) we can add P100. For Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, let’s make it P150 so that we can level the playing field. Or we can make it P110 in Metro Manila, then P150 for the rest),” Zubiri explained. Zubiri has said he is open to a P100 daily wage increase in Metro Manila since the National Wages Productivity Commission (NWPC) has approved a P40 increase in the minimum wage for private sector workers last June. The order took effect on Saturday, July 15 and is expected to directly benefit 1.1 million minimum wage earners in NCR.