Senator Risa Hontiveros expressed her approval on Tuesday for the ₱85 daily minimum wage increase for Metro Manila workers, calling it a helpful starting point but emphasizing the need for broader structural changes to the economy.
While the senator welcomed the immediate financial relief the adjustment brings to the labor sector, she warned that localized, incremental updates are not enough to fix the systemic struggles facing both workers and local businesses.
”Magandang simula ang ₱85 daily minimum wage hike para sa mga manggagawa sa Metro Manila. Pero ‘di sapat ang piecemeal na reporma para sa malaking hamon na hinaharap ng mga industriya at manggagawa,” Hontiveros remarked.
Hontiveros stressed that the country’s wage policy needs to strike a better equilibrium—lifting worker salaries while cultivating a healthy environment for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to grow, especially in provincial regions.
To achieve this, she is advocating for the passage of Senate Bill No. 210, or the “Fair Wages and Productivity Bill.”
The proposed law features a two-pronged system: requiring larger corporations with sufficient capital to implement catch-up wage increases, while granting safety nets for smaller businesses. Under the bill, eligible MSMEs could receive temporary exemptions from the wage hikes, along with tax perks and streamlined registration procedures.
The legislation also proposes a revamp of regional wage boards. It aims to grant the Department of Labor and Employment the sole voting power for the national government, while adding two provincial governors from each region as voting members to decentralize the system.
Hontiveros further called on agencies like the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) to step up their assistance for small enterprises.
”Malaki ang mga reporma na iyan, para umunlad ang kabuhayan sa bawat bahagi ng bansa, hindi lamang mga urban areas gaya ng Metro Manila,” she added.
As the 20th Congress prepares for its second regular session, Hontiveros pressed her fellow lawmakers to prioritize the Fair Wages and Productivity Bill to foster balanced economic development across all provinces.