Senatorial aspirants Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino have expressed their support for the P200 across-the-board minimum wage hike legislation currently pending in the House of Representatives.
(From left) Former senators Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan (Team Kiko-Bam)
The measure hurdled the first and second reading, and is set for the third and final reading this June.
“Kulang ang naiuuwing suweldo ng ating mga manggagawa. Sa pagkain pa lang ubos na, paano pa ang ibang pangangailangan gaya ng kuryente, tubig, upa sa bahay, at gamot (The salary of our workers are not enough. It’s not enough even for food, so how about their other needs like electricity, water, rent, and medicine),” Aquino said during his visit to Carmona, Cavite.
Pangilinan also lamented that the minimum wage can no longer cover the daily expenses of Filipinos.
“Wala nang mabili ang minimum wage (The minimum wage cannot buy anything anymore),” he said, echoing Aquino’s sentiments that the minimum wage can barely cover the basic needs of Filipinos, such as food, transportation, and medicines.
The measure pushing for the P200 daily minimum wage increase was authored by the TUCP Partylist. If approved, the law would require all private businesses, regardless of size and industry, to implement a P200 wage hike daily.
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) recently endorsed the Senate bid of Aquino.
“The TUCP is one with Senator Bam in advancing an education-to-employment agenda that ensures that our Filipino youth can seamlessly transition from quality free university education to decent dignified employment with living wages, security of tenure, and full labor rights,” TUCP President and TUCP Partylist Rep. and House Deputy Speaker Raymond Democrito Mendoza said.
A recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed that 55 percent of Filipino families rated themselves as “poor.”