House committee on labor and employment chairperson Rep. Fidel Nograles (4th District, Rizal) reassured workers Friday that “the fight for better wages” is not dead as it is likely to be passed in June this year when sessions resume after the midterm elections.
Nograles issued this statement after House lawmakers failed to deliberate on the proposed measure before the chamber adjourned this week. “The sessions will continue in June and we will have two weeks before the 19th Congress closes,” he said.
“Do not worry. We will not let our efforts for a wage increase go to waste. We will continue to fight for its enactment within the 19th Congress,” Nograles added.
On Monday, the Lower House approved on 2nd reading House Bill 11376 calling for a P200-peso increase in the pay of minimum wage earners. The version passed by Nograles’ committee initially sought a wage increase for all workers in the private sector.
The bill also exempts barangay microbusiness enterprises from implementing the hike, while businesses regularly employing fewer than 10 workers, along with those adversely affected by natural calamities or human-induced disasters, may apply for exemption.
However, since the bill was not certified as urgent by the president, Congress was not able to bypass a rule stating that there should be at least three session days between the 2nd and 3rd reading before approving a proposed measure.
Nograles expressed his regret that the wage hike bill could not hurdle Congress before it adjourned.
“We regret that the wage hike bill or House Bill No. 11376 was not passed in the third reading because of the three-session-day rule. But we are still grateful that it passed the 2nd reading, because it means we are closer to the dream of increased wages for minimum wage earners,” he said.
In the interim, Nograles emphasized the need to continue drumming up support for the measure to ensure the “issue remains front and center.”
“Jobs, food security, and the ability to cope with the high price of goods and services are top election concerns, which underline the urgent need for the wage hike. So, it is important that we continue to stand up for the call to pass the wage increase,” according to the legislator.
A recent survey by the Social Weather Stations on top election concerns in the country showed that 94 percent of Filipinos would vote for candidates who advocate for “increasing job opportunities” and “developing agriculture and ensuring food security,” 87 percent for reducing poverty and hunger, and 85 percent for controlling the prices of basic goods and services.
