AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee on Friday lauded the P40 minimum wage increase in Metro Manila as he called for the other regional wage boards to issue similar hikes in their respective areas.
“Sa panahon na mataas pa rin ang presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin, malaking tulong pa rin ang dagdag-sahod na ito lalo na para sa ating urban poor sa Metro Manila,” Lee said.
According to the Department of Labor and Employent, the wage hike is expected to directly benefit 1.1 million minimum wage earners in Metro Manila.
“Ang hiling natin ay sana magpatupad na rin ng minimum wage increase ang iba pang mga rehiyon sa lalong madaling panahon, lalo na sa mga lugar na maraming naghihirap,” added Lee, a former businessman whose family’s business employs 3,000 workers around the country.
The latest increase makes the daily minimum wage in the National Capital Region P610 from P570 for the non-agriculture sector, and P573 from P533 for those in the agriculture sector.
The wage order was affirmed by the National Wages and Productivity Commission on Tuesday, June 27, and will take effect on Sunday, July 16.
According to the Department of Labor and Employent, the wage hike is expected to directly benefit 1.1 million minimum wage earners in Metro Manila.
“While government recognizes and acts on the needs of our workers, it must also realize that it has to empower the business sector so that businessmen are in a position to provide jobs and higher wages.”
The Bicolano lawmaker pointed out that generating jobs and increasing wages should be a priority of the government, and said that in order to accomplish this, efforts should also be focused on creating a business-friendly environment that will encourage investments and spur the growth of local industries.
“While government recognizes and acts on the needs of our workers, it must also realize that it has to empower the business sector so that businessmen are in a position to provide jobs and higher wages,” stressed Lee.
“Kaya dito din tayo nakatutok, sa pagpasa ng mga panukala na lilikha ng trabaho at economic opportunties,” added Lee, one of the principal authors of House Bill (HB) 8278, or the proposed Philippine Salt Industry Development Act.
The passage of the measure, Lee said, has the potential to create 3,000 to 5,000 jobs in the country’s rural and agricultural communities.
Intended to create a comprehensive development plan to revitalize the Philippine salt industry, the measure was passed by the House of Representatives on third and final reading on May 29.
“All of us want our workers to have higher incomes because we know they need better wages to provide for their families. As government sets standards for compensation, it should at the same time provide the conditions to grow businesses and make them profitable so they can pay their workers properly. Sa ganitong paraan, Winner Tayo Lahat.”
