Senate approves P100 daily wage hike bill

MANILA – The Senate has already approved on third and final reading the landmark bill that proposes a P100 increase in the minimum wage for workers in the private sector.

20 senators voted in favor of Senate Bill No. 2534 while Senators Imee Marcos, Lito Lapid, Cynthia Villar, and Mark Villar did not vote and were not in the session hall.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, co-sponsor of the measure, previously said that if signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., this could be the “first time since 1989” that there will be an increase in wages through a law.

Zubiri also emphasized the dire need to raise the minimum wage of workers, particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao who currently earn only P360 per day.

Zubiri said that it is impossible for a family to have a good life if the worker earns only P360 a day.

Sen said. Jinggoy Estrada, sponsored the bill that the bill guarantees an increase in the daily wages of approximately 4.2 million minimum wage earners.

Under the proposal, all employees in the private sector, whether agricultural or non-agricultural, are entitled to a P100-daily minimum wage increase.

Meanwhile, Sen clarified. Francis “Chiz” Escudero that the law does not intend to affect Republic Act 6727 and 9178, the Wage Rationalization Act and the Barangay Micro Business Enterprise Act.

He said the proposal does not include establishments with less than 10 employees and less than P3 million in capital if registered under RA 9178.