The Nagkaisa Labor Coalition has urged workers to keep up the pressure on the Congress Labor Committee, as well as the district representatives—demanding swift action on the long-pending P150 wage hike bill.

Nagkaisa stressed the wage hike bill needs to be passed before Congress adjourns sine die next week in preparation for the 2025 national and local elections.

ROMUALDEZ COMMITMENT

The group issued the call as it welcomed the commitment made by House Speaker Martin Romualdez to act on the pending P150 wage hike bill during in a recent meeting with labor leaders

The Trade Union Congress Party (TUCP Party-list) Representative and House Deputy Speaker Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza—together with leaders from the Federation of Free Workers (FFW), SENTRO, and the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP)—met with Romualdez to discuss fast-tracking the passage of the TUCP Party-list’s House Bill No. 7871 which seeks to provide an across-the-board ₱150 legislated daily wage hike for all workers in the private sector.

Emphasizing that the last legislated wage hike was enacted in 1989 or 36 years ago, the labor leaders called on Speaker Romualdez to “prioritize the passage of this historic measure as an emergency response to the cost-of-living crisis faced by every Filipino worker and their family in the face of big-time oil, rice, power, and even fare hike, as well as record-high self-rated poverty and hunger.”

Affirmatively the Congress Labor Committee has calendared a public hearing on Thursday, Jan. 30, to wrap up its deliberations on the wage hike proposals.

“Speaker Romualdez positively responded to the workers’ calls and expressed his strong support and commitment to prioritize and accelerate the immediate passage of the proposed legislated daily wage hike, even expressing willingness to go beyond the ₱150 increase to better address chronic malnutrition, stunting, and poverty and ultimately ensure a more dignified life for Filipino workers and their families,” the TUCP said in a statement.

INSUFFICIENT WAGE ORDERS

Nagkaisa said the P150 wage hike bill has been stalled in the Labor Committee since March 2024, while wage orders from regional boards remain insufficient against the ever-increasing cost of living.

The coalition stressed the urgency of the situation, urging Congress and Malacañang not to delay further action. “We cannot afford to wait any longer. With every passing day, the value of our wages continues to diminish as inflation continues to rise,” the statement said.

With less than a week left in the 19th Congress’ session before the long election break, labor groups remain hopeful that the wage hike bill may still beat the red light.