THE House Committee on Labor and Employment chair has said that his panel is set to tackle the issue of “higher wages” soon.

“May mga panukalang batas tungkol sa pagtataas ng sahod na nakatakda nating isalang sa lalong madaling panahon. Once preparations are done and all stakeholders informed, we will proceed with the discussion of these bills,” Rizal 4th District Representative Fidel Nograles, a stalwart of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) led by Speaker Martin G. Romualdez as president, said.

This, was after a back and forth between Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma and House Assistant Minority Leader Arlene Brosas over the need to implement a national minimum wage, if not a wage increase, amid the rising prices of basic goods.

“Our existing law of having Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) is still the better approach, and the best approach is collective negotiations so we can see the capacity of employers which provide the terms and conditions for their employees,” Laguesma said during DOLE’s (Department of Labor and Employment) presentation of its proposed P25.8-billion budget for 2023 before the House appropriations committee.

“Implementing Republic Act 6727 (Wage Rationalization Act) is still conducive sa paglilikha ng hanapbuhay sa iba’t-ibang rehiyon at ibang oportunidad sa kanayunan.

Our direction is we should ensure that the wage orders issued by [the] Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board are attuned to the times. We look at this yearly, whether there is a petition for a wage hike or not,” he added.

Brosas, meanwhile, expressed hope that DOLE would make increasing wages a “legislative priority”.

Several bills have been filed seeking to abolish the RTWPB and implement a general minimum wage across the country.

The proposals are seen to help Filipinos cope with the hike in prices of food and other commodities.

Nograles underscored the urgency for deliberating on these bills soon amid growing clamor from workers.

A survey by Pulse Asia in June revealed that 57% of Filipinos believe the government must take steps to address inflation, while 45% are calling for a salary increase.

“The labor issue is a gut issue because the ability of Filipino families to afford food amid inflation is directly linked to the pay they receive from their jobs. We in Congress understand the clamor of our people, and we would like to reassure them that we are taking steps to address the problem,” the lawmaker said.

The lawmaker, however, also called for sobriety, as he said the passage of a national minimum wage is not a “done deal.”

“Mahaba-habang diskusyon pa po ito dahil masalimuot ang issue. While everyone is united in the desire to have higher wages, we also have to ensure that employers are not run to the ground because of this. Kailangang mabalanse natin ang iba’t-ibang interes at humanap ng compromise,” Nograles said.