HOUSE OKAYS P200 INCREASE IN DAILY WAGE

THE House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on third and final reading a bill seeking a P200 daily pay hike for minimum wage workers in the private sector.

With 171 voting in the affirmative, one in the negative and no abstention, the plenary approved House Bill 11376  or the proposed Wage Hike For Minimum Wage Workers Act .

“Upon the effectivity of this Act, the daily rate of all minimum wage workers in the private sector, regardless of employment status, including those in contractual and sub-contractual arrangements, whether agricultural or nonagricultural, shall be increased by two hundred pesos (P200) per day,” Section 3 of the proposed measure said.

“Nothing in this Act shall prevent the respective Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards from granting additional increases to the workers and employees, as may be determined in accordance with their mandate under Republic Act No. 6727, otherwise known as the ‘Wage Rationalization Act,’ as amended,” it added.

If signed into law, it will be the first legislated nationwide wage hike since the Wage Rationalization Act in 1989.  

HB 11376 stated that as provided by the Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs) Act, BMBEs shall be exempted from the Minimum Wage Law’s coverage.

The same bill said that as provided by the Wage Rationalization Act, “and relevant rules of the National Wages and Productivity Commission, these may apply for exemption from complying with the subject minimum wage increase: “retail or service establishments regularly employing not more than ten (10) workers;” and “establishments adversely affected by natural calamities or human-induced disasters.”