HOUSE PANEL PUSHES MINIMUM WAGE SYSTEM

THE House Committee on Labor and Employment chaired by Cavite Rep. Ramon Jolo Revilla III on Wednesday approved the consolidation of House Bills (HBs) 55, 94, 3266, 4102, and 5924 seeking to establish a Minimum Wage System.

Revilla III, who also authored HB 5924, said his measure seeks to correct the flaws in the current system and provide a just, fair and single minimum wage system that is not based on where one lives, but on the value of one’s work as a Filipino.

“Kaya tinatanggal natin ang provincial wage tiers at ina-abolish ang dating sistema ng wage boards. Hindi ito simpleng pag-angat ng numero sa papel, ito po ay pagtatama ng isang sistemang matagal nang hindi patas at kung minsan ay nakakabawas sa dignidad ng manggagawa. Nais ko pong ipaalala na walang manggagawa ang dapat maiwan, at ang kanilang sahod ay dapat nagbibigay ng ginhawa — hindi dagdag-pasanin,” he said.

Other measures approved were four unnumbered substitute bills and their corresponding committee reports. These are : 1) Substitute Bill to House Bills 257, 2228, and 5434, expanding the prohibited acts of discrimination against women on account of sex; 2) Substitute Bill to HBs 481 and 4762, mandating all barangays to create a registry of skilled workers; 3) Substitute Bill to HB 4081, institutionalizing the National Registry of Workers; and 4) Substitute Bill to HBs 86, 1730, 2605, 2985, 4155, 4515, 5076, 5453, 5741, and 5889, providing for a wage employment assistance program for displaced or vulnerable workers, institutionalizing for the purpose the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers or TUPAD.

The committee also approved 20 bills seeking to provide protection and incentives to freelance workers and their consolidation.

Revilla III said the developments reaffirm the committee’s role and the impact it can make in addressing wage concerns and the lives of Filipino workers.