President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., yesterday assured Filipino workers that the government is actively studying proposed wage increases across the country, amid continuing demands for better pay and job security as the nation celebrated its 123rd Labor Day.
Speaking before labor officials, Cabinet members, and workers at a Labor Day ceremony in Pasay City, he said the government “hears the call of our workers for better wages,” adding that the country’s 17 Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) are reviewing salary standards.
“We hear the call of our workers for better wages and assure you that your concerns are being addressed through the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards,” Mr. Marcos said.
“The government stands firm in its commitment to protecting and advancing workers’ welfare while promoting inclusive economic development,” he added.
Meanwhile, the DOLE disclosed that consultations on a possible wage hike for minimum wage earners in Metro Manila will begin mid-May.
DOLE-National Capital Region (NCR) Director Sarah Buena Mirasol said preparations are underway for discussions between labor and employer groups regarding a potential salary adjustment for private-sector workers.
“Consultations between workers and employers will begin in May, followed by a public hearing in June,” Mirasol said on the sidelines of the Labor Day job fair at SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
Since June last year, wage boards in 16 regions have issued 28 wage orders, increasing pay across various sectors.
Despite recent salary adjustments, however, labor groups continue demanding substantial legislated across-the-board wage increases to keep up with rising inflation.
Still, the chief executive cautioned against implementing arbitrary pay hikes without consideration of the broader economy.
“It’s easy to make sweet promises, but they come with effects on business growth, employment, and the overall economy,” Mr. Marcos stressed.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the House Labor and Employment Committee renewed his call on the President to certify as “urgent” the wage hike bill.
“As we commemorate Labor Day, I hope that we in government are reminded of the continued plight of workers who find it ever more challenging to make ends meet. In this regard, I once again urge Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., to certify as urgent the pending wage hike bill,” Rizal Rep. Fidel Nograles said.
Nograles said that the President’s certification could be a critical push to convince lawmakers to pass the bill on third reading.
The Lower House version of the wage hike bill, which calls for a P200 daily wage increase for minimum wage earners, was approved on second reading before it adjourned in February.
To recall, the Senate’s version of the wage hike bill, which it passed in 2024, proposes only a P100 daily wage hike.
For his part, House Speaker Martin Romualdez pointed out Congress’ recent achievements towards improving the plight of hard-working Filipinos, both those employed in industry or those tilling the land.
Among the major laws passed by the House is the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act.
“A national roadmap that aligns skills with real jobs – strengthening the link between education, training, and employment,” Romualdez noted.
“It gives structure to job creation, closing the gap between labor supply and industry demand,” he added.
He also cited the enactment of the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, which wrote off over ₱57 billion in land debt for more than 600,000 farmers.
“That means freedom from decades of burdens and a fresh start for the families who feed our nation,” Romualdez said.
As this developed, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced on Labor Day that it has allocated P2.57 billion in assistance to workers nationwide under the agency’s Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP).
The DILEEP, which consists of Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) and DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), is seen to help a total of 406,781 Filipinos.
Of this number, a total of 389,613 are listed under emergency employment through TUPAD, while 17,168 are supported with livelihood grants or kabuhayan packages under DILP, it said.