The country’s most militant and largest labor federation urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to sign the legislated wage increase into law once transmitted to Malacañang Palace by Congress.
The Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) said that while the proposed wage increases fall far short from their demand of a living wage, the measures passed by both the House of Representatives (HOR) and the Senate is significant as it is bound to be the first legislated wage hike in 36 years.
The HOR passed the P200 daily wage increase bill Wednesday night. It followed a P100 daily increase bill unanimously approved by the Senate in February 2024.
A conference committee is due to reconcile the HOR and Senate versions before transmittal to the Office of the President for signing or vetoing.
The National Capital Region has the highest minimum wage in the Philippines, currently at ₱645 per day, while the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has the lowest rate at 316 to 361 pesos per day.
Economic think tank IBON Foundation meanwhile has pegged the family living cost at P1,200 daily, more than 400% less than the RWBs allow in the country’s poorest regions.
KMU said the passage of a legislated hike by both houses of Congress despite opposition by business groups said is the result of the continuous demand of workers for a living wage.
“Though it (the HOR measure) falls short of the ₱1200 daily minimum we are pushing for, the passage marks the first time a legislated wage hike is passed in Congress since 1989 and underscores the utter failure and inutility of the wage boards,” KMU said.
If signed into law, the wage hike measures bypass the regional wage boards (RWB) established by the Wage Rationalization Act of 1989 (Republic Act 6727) that had been very conservative in allowing wage increases.
“We reiterate our call for the repeal of RA 6727, an end to the regionalization of wages and the abolition of the RWBs,” KMU said.
Refusal to sign the measures into law would further expose the Marcos administration’s anti-labor nature, KMU said.
The federation said that it still seeks to reestablish a national minimum wage based on a family living wage of P1,200 daily.
“The fight for a family living wage is now more urgent as it has been proven that a legislated wage hike is possible. We will remain vigilant to assure that this law is passed and fully implemented,” KMU said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)