House Committee on Labor and Employment Chairman Rizal 4th distict Rep. Fidel Nograles urged Filipinos on Friday, Jan. 31 to support the wage hike measure pending in Congress, instead of assailing it for its timing.
'Wag na pag-awayan': Nograles asks Pinoys to support passage of P200 wage hike bill
At a glance
Rizal 4th district Rep. Fidel Nograles (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
House Committee on Labor and Employment Chairman Rizal 4th distict Rep. Fidel Nograles urged Filipinos on Friday, Jan. 31 to support the wage hike measure pending in Congress, instead of assailing it for its timing.
"The wage hike bill is a much-needed measure that could bring relief to millions of minimum wage workers across the whole country," Nograles said, referring to the measure calling for a P200 across-the-board daily wage increase among workers in the private sector.
"Mas mahalaga po na tumindig tayo at magkaisa para tuluyan nang maisabatas ito kaysa nagaaway," Nograles said.
(Supporting and uniting behind the passage of this bill is more important than fighting over it.)
The Nograles committee on Thursday approved the committee report on the unnumbered substitute bill providing for the daily across-the-board wage increase. The original proposal was P150, but it was changed to P200.
The bill's panel approval comes three months before the country holds its next mid-term elections. The campaign period for national bets starts next week.
Nograles had earlier explained that the committee had to consult various stakeholders, thus the extended period for the bill's approval.
However, a rise in inflation in December underlines the urgency of a legislated wage hike to help Filipino families to cope with the higher cost of living, the lawmaker said.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) earlier this month reported that inflation rose to 2.9 percent in December, higher than the 2.5 percent recorded in November. This was mainly due to the higher cost of housing and energy.
"Naniniwala po kami sa komite na mahalagang interbensyon ang wage hike dahil sa patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin. Tugon po ito sa pagsumamo ng ating mga kababayang manggagawa ng suporta upang matustusan nila ang pangangailangan ng kanilang mga pamilya," said Nograles.
(We in the committee believe that the wage hike is an important intervention amid the runaway prices of goods. This is the response to our workers' cry for help so they may provide for their families' needs.)