Labor groups slam wage hike inaction

LABOR groups lambasted the House of Representatives' Committee on Labor and Employment for not acting promptly on House Bill 7871 that mandates a P150 daily wage hike.

The groups, including Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), Federation of Free Workers and Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa, called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to certify the measure as urgent and to temporarily suspend excise taxes on petroleum products to cushion the impact of inflation on ordinary Filipinos.

«There is no other reprieve in sight in the face of volatile energy price spikes eating away at workers' meager salaries and public utility vehicle drivers' take-home pay,» they said in a statement.

A December 2024 Social Weather Station survey said 63 percent or 17.4 million families, considered themselves poor, the highest in 21 years.

Of the figure, 10.2 percent were near poor and 11 percent were borderline poor.

A petition to increase jeepney fare from P13 to P15 was under review by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

«Everything is going up — food prices, utility bills, SSS contributions, and now even the train fare — everything except workers' wages,» said TUCP Vice President Luis Corral.

TUCP Party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza, author of House Bill 7871, said the measure has been pending before the House Labor Committee led by Rizal 4th District Rep. Fidel Nograles for over eight months, while proposals to suspend fuel excise taxes have yet to be deliberated in the 19th Congress.

Speaker Martin Romualdez vowed to expedite deliberations on the proposed wage hike.

«The House of the People is working tirelessly to craft a wage increase measure that meets the needs of our workers while ensuring that businesses, particularly micro, small, and medium enterprises, are supported during this transition. This is a critical step toward achieving inclusive growth and addressing the immediate challenges faced by Filipino families,» Romualdez said.

He added that the House was consulting with stakeholders, including labor groups, employers and economists, to ensure that the resulting legislation was inclusive and sustainable.