AS the country commemorates Labor Day, the chairman of the House labor and employment committee urged the President anew to certify as urgent the wage hike bill.

“As we commemorate Labor Day, I hope that we in government be 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 4th District 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.

“Once Congress resumes in June, we will only have six session days from June 2 to 14. The President’s certification could serve as a clarion call to the House of Representatives to rally to the cause of our workers and pass it in time,” he said.

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 on February.

Nograles said that an announcement of the president’s certification would be a meaningful gift especially to the over five million minimum wage earners across the country.

“Makabuluhang mensahe po ang pag-sertipika bilang urgent ng wage hike bill para sa mga minimum wage workers natin, na magpapahiwatig na isinaalang-alang ng pamahalaan ang kapakanan ng mga manggagawa,” said the lawmaker.

If the House of Representatives is able to pass the wage hike bill on 3rd reading before the closing of the 19th Congress, both Houses could then proceed on reconciling the differences between their respective versions during the bicameral conference committee.

The Senate’s version of the wage hike bill, which it passed in 2024, proposes a P100 daily wage hike.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ryan Ponce Pacpaco