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House panel shrugs off Senate pressure; will tackle wage hike bills slowly but surely

Philippines | National

House panel shrugs off Senate pressure; will tackle wage hike bills slowly but surely

By Ellson Quismorio

At A Glance

The House Committee on Labor and Employment doesn't feel any pressure from the Senate regarding the latter's call for congressmen to act on bills that seek to increase the minimum wage of Filipino workers.

Rizal 4th district Rep. Fidel Nograles (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The House Committee on Labor and Employment doesn't feel any pressure from the Senate when it comes to the latter's call for congressmen to act on bills that seek to increase the minimum wage of Filipino workers.

Committee Chairman Rizal 4th district Rep. Fidel Nograles had this to say in a press conference ahead of his panel's scheduled hearing on pending wage hike bill this coming Wednesday, Feb. 28.

"[We weren't pressured]...kasi kailangan po nating pakinggan ang lahat po ng mga panig (because we need to listen to all sides)," Nograles said Monday, Feb. 26.

The legislated wage hike is one of the rare bills wherein the Senate has a big headstart over the House. Last week, senators approved on third and final reading Senate Bill (SB) No. 2534, which sought P100 increase in the daily minimum wage of employees in the private sector.

Senators had appealed to their House counterparts to take up similar filed bills. But Nograles' response indicates that the House is taking a methodical approach on the matter.

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"So alisunod po sa direktiba ng ating House Speaker, hindi po natin mamadaliin (So as per our House Speaker's directive, we won't rush this)," he said.

"Kailangan po nating pag-aralan, suriin, at pakinggan lahat po ng mga hanay, lalung lalo na ho yung sa mga investors, yung mga namumuhunan, yung mga nagbibigay po ng trabaho dito sa ating bansa. Kasi sila po yung maaapektuhan pagdating po dito sa usapin," he noted.

(We need to study, research, and listen to every sector, especially the investors, the capitalists, those who create jobs here in our country. Because they're the ones who will be affected by this issue.)

"Pag-aaralan po natin ngayong Miyerkules po, papakinggan po natin yung--pagdating po kasi sa usapin ng labor, tripartite yan," the panel chairman added.

(This coming Wednesday, we will study it, we will listen--when it comes to labor, it's a tripartite discussion.)

"Hindi lang ho manggagawa, bagamat beneficial ito sa kanya. Kailangan din ho natin pakinggan yung epekto nito sa ekonomiya, yung epekto nito sa mga investors, sa mga employers at yung hanay naman po ng Department of Labor [and Employment]," explained Nograles.

(This isn't solely about the laborers, although this is beneficial to them. We need to learn about its effects on the economy, it's effects on investors, on employers, and on the Department of Labor and Employment.)

The House leadership earlier said that it was eyeing a minimum wage increase of P150 to P350 per month.

Related Tags

Senators fidel nograles Wage hike

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