As the nation celebrates Labor Day, senators pressed for the passage of the bill seeking a P100 daily minimum wage for all workers in the country.
"In the Senate, we have already passed the proposed P100 Daily Minimum Wage Increase Act in response to the call of our workers. We fervently hope that the House of Representatives will soon pass it also," Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri said in his Labor Day statement.
The Senate, he said, is one with the call for better wages and benefits for all workers.
"This country is built on the hard work of our workers. They power our industries, and any economic gains that we make as a country is thanks in large part to their labor," Zubiri said.
"Despite having a vital role in our economic landscape, however, our workers remain largely undervalued for their contributions. And so we in the Senate stand with every Filipino worker in fighting for their rights, from better wages to safer workplaces," the Senate chief said.
As Majority Leader of the Senate, Sen. Joel Villanueva said he fought for the P100 wage increase in the daily minimum wage that "would pave the way for the living wage we are promoting as the standard for setting wages."
"We believe that it should be checked if the salary is able to support the daily needs of the family, nutrition is sufficient, and the children can study," Villanueva said.
Senate Committee on Labor and Employment chief Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada also said he is anticipating the House's approval of its own version of the measure.
"We are just waiting for the version of the House of Representatives so that we can draft a final version that we will send to Malacanang to be signed and become a full law," Estrada said, also in a separate message.