Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday, July 3, said he has a strong support from his fellow senators to pass a legislated P150 minimum daily wage increase to benefit all laborers throughout the country.
This came after the Senate labor committee chaired by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada has undertaken a public hearing on a Zubiri bill seeking a P150 daily increase increase on top of the current P570 daily wage in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Zubiri and Estrada joined their colleagues in stating that the P40 daily increase as approved by the National Capital Region (NCR) Regional Wage Board is ‘’too low.’’
Zubiri said there is no law that prevents Congress from legislating a minimum daily wage increase.
The P150 daily wage increase for laborers through out the country is sought, according to Zubiri, because the price of basic commodities are the same throughout the country.
He said the price of electricity is even higher in the provinces than in the NCR.
While he thanked the NCR wage board for approving the P40 daily wage increase, Zubiri said this is definitely not enough as a kilo of rice ranges from P44 to P45 a kilo.
"Ang presyo ng Jollibee or McDonald's ay pareho lang sa Metro Manila (the price of Jollibee or McDonald’s are the same as in Metro Manila)," he pointed out.
Asked whether there is a study that there would give non-cash benefits in the P150 daily wage increase that might affect inflation and exports, Zubiri said: "Well, we're commissioning, we're into it now…We ask the Senate to do a survey… We actually commissioned several surveys to also talk to companies about the impacts that lead to.’’
After Congress has passed the legislated wage increase, Zubiri said they would "see the President and discuss with him the proposal because you know their claim is always that word a second highest minimum wage in Southeast Asia. That's no longer true.’’
The daily wage in Indonesia is P830 and P890 in Malaysia, he added.
Zubiri stressed that the increase in daily wage goes back to the economy.
Under a legislated wage increase, laborers have funds to bring their children to Jollibee or McDonalds during the weekend.
"They have funds to bring their families to the mall. So it just goes back to the economy. Nothing is lost. And I think the happiness index here will increase because ang mga tao (because the workers)..they’re happy to work in, stay in the Philippines. That's the most important point,’’ he pointed out.