The House of Representatives Committee on Labor and Employment on Thursday passed a measure mandating a P200 daily across-the-board wage increase for private sector workers.
The approval came following a proposal that gained momentum after Speaker Martin Romualdez initiated a Tuesday night meeting to discuss their call for higher wages.
The committee, chaired by Rizal Rep. Juan Fidel Felipe Nograles, approved a motion by Cotabato 3rd District Rep. Ma. Alana Samantha Santos to pass the substitute bill for the “P200 Daily Across-the-Board Wage Increase Act,” consolidating House Bills 514, 7568, and 7871.
If enacted, the measure would require all private businesses, regardless of size or industry, to implement a P200 daily pay hike for their workers.
Romualdez—together with Deputy Speaker and TUCP party-list Rep. Democrito Raymond Mendoza and Assistant Majority Leader and Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre—met with labor leaders to affirm the House’s commitment to fast-tracking a wage increase measure while ensuring economic sustainability.
“The House of the People is working tirelessly to craft a wage increase measure that meets the needs of our workers while ensuring that businesses, particularly MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises), are supported during this transition,” Romualdez said.
“This is a critical step toward achieving inclusive growth and addressing the immediate challenges faced by Filipino families,” the leader of the 307-member House of Representatives added.
Aside from Nograles, Mendoza, and Acidre, the committee-approved bill was authored by Reps. Ramon Jolo Revilla III (Cavite, 1st District), Arlene Brosas (Gabriela), France Castro (ACT Teachers), Raoul Manuel (Kabataan), Ron Salo (Kabayan), Ramon Guico Jr. (Pangasinan, 5th District), Joseph Lara (Cagayan, 3rd District), Robert Raymund Estrella (Abono), Yedda K. Romualdez (Tingog), Josefina Tallado (Camarines Norte, 1st District), and Jose Ma. Zubiri (Bukidnon, 3rd District).
Under the proposed law, employers must provide an additional P200 per day to their workers’ salaries upon effectivity. The legislation prohibits employers from offsetting the increase with previously granted wage adjustments unless these were explicitly anticipated under collective bargaining agreements. Existing benefits and allowances cannot be reduced as a result of the pay hike.
During the hearing, Mendoza called the committee approval a historic moment, noting it could be the first legislated wage hike since 1989.