Labor groups urge Senate to ratify legislated wage hike

MANILA, Philippines — Even with the impeachment trial, labor groups yesterday called on the Senate to convene the bicameral committee to reconcile and ratify the final version of the legislated hike bill.

Partido Manggagawa (PM) said while the Senate is mandated to comply with the impeachment trial, it should not neglect its equally critical obligation to workers struggling under stagnant wages.

“With only three session days left, any delay at the bicam level risks killing this historic opportunity to grant workers a long-overdue, substantial wage hike,” PM said in a statement.

The group said Congress has the constitutional duty to ensure the timely enactment of important bills.

“Even if the bicam beats the clock, the fight is not over: the bill still needs the President’s signature,” PM noted.

“But combined pressure from Congress and sustained mobilization by labor groups can break the gridlock,” it added.

PM said the government should heed the workers’ demand and not surrender to capitalist veto.

The Federation of Free Workers (FFW) said the bicameral conference committee must not be affected by allegations of a mass layoff, and should approve a P100-P200 wage increase.

“Let’s not be scared at the specter of a mass layoff – let’s be more afraid of the real hunger that would haunt our workers’ tables,” FFW president Sonny Matula said.

Business groups want wage setting to be left to tripartite boards.

Malacañang has said President Marcos wants to assess the economic impact of a legislated wage hike.