Solon: No middle ground yet on wage hike bills

The House Labor Committee had yet to come up with a middle ground for a legislated wage hike for minimum wage workers, panel Chairperson Fidel Nograles said Tuesday.

Nograles’ committee was deliberating on legislated daily minimum wage hike bills, which range from P150 to as much as P750.

“So far, we don’t see a middle ground yet. Next Wednesday, the members will have a chance to interpellate (ask questions) from the resource persons,” Nograles said in a press conference.

During the first hearing on proposed wage hike bills, authors of the measures as well as various labor groups and research firms presented their position papers on the matter.

On Tuesday, Nograles said that the option of granting a wage subsidy emerged as a viable option.

“We are looking at a wage subsidy to be of help to those in need because a wage hike could worsen our situation right now,” Nograles said.

“We have existing government interventions such as AKAP and TUPAD, and we are looking at identifying who are the qualified individuals for the wage subsidy,” Nograles added.

AKAP is the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program which grants cash aid to near-poor households, while TUPAD is the Tulong Panghanapbuhay para sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers implemented by the Labor Department.

Cavite lawmaker Jolo Revilla earlier said that his proposed P150 wage hike for minimum wage workers in the private sector had the support of at least 77 House members, all of whom had signed on as co-authors of the measure.

“Ang patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin ay nakakaapekto sa kondisyon at kalidad ng buhay ng karamihan ng mga Pilipino, lalo na sa mga minimum wage earners nahihirapang tugunan ang kanilang araw-araw na pangangailangan,” Revilla said.

(The unabated price increases in basic commodities affect the quality of life of many Filipinos, especially minimum wage earners who are having a hard time making ends meet.)

“Dahil rito, nararapat lamang na siguraduhin ng pamahalaan na isinusulong ang napapanahong polisiya at programa pagdating sa umento sa sahod para matiyak na ang bawat isa ay may pantay at sapat na oportunidad at proteksyon bilang manggagawa para mapabuti ang antas ng kanilang pamumuhay,” he added.

(It is only right for the government to ensure that a timely wage hike is implemented to provide the workers fair opportunities to improve their quality of life.)

The Senate had approved a P100 wage hike for minimum wage workers on third and final reading last February 19. — DVM, GMA Integrated News