Senate OKs P100 wage hike bill on final reading

MANILA, Philippines — The P100 minimum wage hike for private sector workers has been approved on third and final reading by the Senate, with 20 affirmative votes and no negative votes or abstentions.

Senators Imee Marcos, Lito Lapid, Cynthia Villar and Mark Villar were not present at the session hall and thus did not cast their votes.

Members of the House of Representatives have been cool to legislating a wage increase, dismissing it as posturing by senators ahead of the 2025 midterm elections.

The law leaves wage-fixing to regional tripartite wages and productivity boards, where the capability of the business sector to implement a wage increase is considered.

Employers have warned that a legislated wage hike across the board could lead to job losses and business shutdowns, and fuel inflation as the cost of the wage hike is passed on to consumers.

Sen. Bong Go, one of the co-authors of Senate Bill 2534, commended the bill’s sponsor Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri for their drive to help Filipino workers.

“It is the goal of this measure to provide for a living wage that allows our Filipino workers to earn enough for a satisfactory standard of living and prevent them from falling into poverty,” Go said.

He urged the rich to distribute their income to the poor.

“I will continue to stand in solidarity with every proposal that we submit to affirm the welfare and rights of our Filipino workers,” he added.

Sen. Francis Escudero clarified that the proposed measure will not affect the Wage Rationalization Act of 1989, the Barangay Micro Business Enterprises Act of 2002 or small companies that only have 10 employees or those with an investment of P3 million or less.

Estrada said “the last legislated wage hike that was implemented in the country dates back to 1989.”

Sen. Grace Poe said that while a P100 wage hike is insufficient, it has been a long time since a legislated wage hike was implemented.

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said “the legislated wage hike is a good start” for what he dreams of “giving all workers a living wage.”

Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas yesterday lauded the Senate for passing SB 2534.

“Although the