Senators on Thursday, May 2, expressed their support to President Marcos' order on Labor Day for the timely review of the minimum wage amid rising prices of goods and services across the country.
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said that they welcome this move by the President to ensure that the salaries of our workers will be able to sustain their daily living.
"We also thank him for highlighting the importance of our landmark labor laws such as the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act and the Enterprise-Based Training and Education Framework Bill which are game-changing measures for job creation and addressing job-skills mismatch," he said.
Villanueva added that the Senate has already passed the P100 daily minimum wage rate increase bill and is currently waiting for legislative action on the part of the House of Representatives.
He mentioned that for the Senate's part, they have been pushing for the passage of Senate Bill No. 2140, which seeks to establish living wage as the basis to determine the daily minimum wage pursuant to the mandate in our Constitution.
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III said that while it is okay to review the regional minimum wage rates, it is better to legislate a new nationwide minimum wage amount.
"Because if the existing system needs the President to request the regional wage boards to review wage rates before the RWB actually acts and reviews them, then that only shows that the system is not working. The RWBs must be out of touch with reality already," he said.
"They are not sensitive anymore to the actual situation on the ground. Marami na pong naghihirap kahit doon sa mga employed dahil ang bayad sa kanila na daily minimum wage ay hindi na makatarungan (A lot are having a hard time even those who are employed because they're getting paid with a daily minimum wage that's no longer enough)," he added.
Senate Committee on Labor and Employment chief Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada said that with no less than the President calling for a prompt review of minimum wage rates in all regions, this already ensures the possibility of a new salary increase for workers.
"I strongly support taking a proactive approach towards ensuring fair compensation for our workers, especially in light of the rising cost of goods and basic necessities. It is essential to make timely adjustments to the minimum wage to safeguard the economic well-being of our labor force and promote social justice," he said.
"As a labor advocate, I believe this is a crucial step in supporting our workforce and ensuring that they receive the compensation they deserve," he added.
Estrada said that this initiative will not be a hindrance to the law that the Senate is pushing on the P100 minimum wage increase.
He said that in the end, should the RTWPBs decide that there will be supervening condition for some regions to come up with a new wage order, it will be a great help to workers who are doing their best to make ends meet with their monthly wages for their growing families.
Sen. Sonny Angara said that the President's move is good and timely since a lot of workers are experiencing difficulty. He hopes that this order from the President will be accompanied by long-term support to farmers and food industries for cheaper food, thus eliminating the need for importation.
Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero said that he hopes that this will lead to the President certifying the Senate’s minimum wage increase bill so that the House can do its part.
For Sen. Francis Tolentino, this initiative will enable workers to cope with the current inflation bearing in mind the employers’ sustainable business position. At the same time, he also called for a price freeze of basic commodities including rice for the duration of the El Niño season.
President Marcos' order came during the 122nd Labor Day, urging the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board to conduct a review in their respective region, "with due consideration to the impact of inflation, among others, within 60 days prior to the anniversary of their latest wage order."