Kamanggagawa Party-list Representative Eli San Fernando has urged President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to certify as urgent the proposed ₱200 across-the-board wage increase for private sector workers to fast-track its passage in Congress.
According to San Fernando, it is time to implement a “wage recovery” for millions of Filipino workers who continue to struggle with the rising cost of living.
“Panahon na upang maisakatuparan ang wage recovery para sa mga manggagawang matagal nang naiipit sa taas ng presyo ng mga bilihin,” he said.
The lawmaker argued that the small, region-based wage adjustments issued by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards are no longer enough to cope with inflation.
“Hindi sapat ang maliliit na dagdag-sahod na ipinagkakaloob ng mga regional wage board,” he added, stressing the need for a legislated wage hike so that “ordinary workers can truly feel the fruits of their labor.”
Last June, the House of Representatives approved on final reading a bill granting a ₱200 daily wage increase to minimum wage earners in the private sector. This measure offers a higher adjustment compared to the ₱100 wage hike approved earlier by the Senate.
However, San Fernando lamented that the proposal was not included in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) priority agenda.
“Wala doon sa priority agenda ng administrasyong Marcos ‘yung anumang pag-uusap sa pagtataas ng sahod ng mga manggagawa,” he told reporters on Thursday, October 23.
The party-list lawmaker called on the administration to heed the workers’ call for relief amid the continuous surge in prices of goods and services.
“Kung hindi kayang pababain ang presyo ng mga bilihin, dapat itaas ang sahod,” he said.