A bill proposing an increase of P100 in the daily minimum wage for private sector workers in the entire country, which is estimated to benefit over 4.2 million minimum wage earners is up for plenary deliberations in the Senate.

During the session on Wednesday, Feb. 7, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development endorsed for plenary approval Senate Bill No. 2534.

From the original proposal of a P150 daily wage increase, Estrada said his committee recommended a P100 daily pay hike as almost all regional wage boards have already responded to the workers’ clamor by ordering an increase ranging from P30 to P90 last year.

“Bagama’t kinikilala natin ang wage hikes na ipinatupad kamakailan ng regional wage boards, tila nabura na ito ng patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng pangunahing bilihin, kaya natin iminumungkahi ito. Ang pagtaas ng sahod ng mga manggagawa sa mas disenteng lebel ay napapanahon at talagang kailangan para ipantay, kahit papaano, sa pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin (While we recognize the wage hikes implemented recently by the regional wage boards, this was somewhat eroded by the continuous increase in the price of basic commodities, that's why we proposed this. The increase in salary of workers to a more decent level is teimly and really needed to keep up with the price hike),” Estrada said in his sponsorship speech on Senate Bill No. 2534.

While minimum wage in Metro Manila for the non-agricultural sector consistently recorded the highest basic pay in the country at P610 per day, however, the actual daily pay is eroded by inflation, the lawmaker said.

The real value of the minimum wage—which reflects the inflation-adjusted rates using the consumer price index—has fallen to P514.50 in the capital as of July 2023 and further decreased to P504 for October 2023 and this scenario is replicated across all regions, Estrada added.

“After consideration of the existing socio-economic conditions and positions of various sectors, it is incumbent upon us to propose a daily pay hike to help alleviate the burden of Filipinos in the face of soaring prices of basic commodities and rising cost of living. We cannot turn a blind eye on the injustice to and the economic conditions of our workers, who are considered the lifeblood of the economy,” Estrada, a labor advocate, emphasized.

The prevailing minimum wage is even further away from meeting the basic needs of workers’ families which is estimated at P8,379 per month, he also said.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said in his co-sponsorship speech that it's not right that only prices of goods are increasing, wages should also increase. It's also not right that only companies are earning, workers must also earn too.

"Now is time that we push for the benefits of our labor sector. With this bill, we hope to take a vital step in recognizing the worth of our workers," he added.