Senate sets plenary debates for P100 daily minimum wage hike in private sector

(THE MANILA TIMES) MANILA, Philippines: The 24-member Senate is set to start plenary debates on a bill mandating the private sector to implement a P100 daily minimum wage increase in the private sector.

This comes after the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resources on Wednesday endorsed the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 2534, a proposed Act mandating that the minimum wage rate of all workers in the private sector, whether agricultural or non-agricultural, shall be increased by P100 a day.

SB 2534 is principally authored by Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr, Lorna Regina “Loren” Legara, Maria Lourdes “Nancy” Binay, Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada.

Under the bill, nothing shall prevent the respective Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board from granting additional increases to the workers and employees based on its determination under Republic Act (RA) 6727, otherwise known as the “Wage Rationalization Act”, as amended.

It also provides that no wage increase shall be credited as compliance with the increase prescribed herein unless expressly provided under valid collective bargaining agreements.

SB 2534 further provides that such increases shall not include anniversary wage increases, merit wage increases, and those resulting from the regularization or promotion of employees.