REVILLA URGES CONGRESS TO FAST TRACK WAGE HIKE BILL

Senator Bong Revilla today called on both the Senate and House leadership to fast track the passage of the proposed P125 daily across-the-board wage increase to ease the impact of rising prices nationwide. According to Revilla, the Senate and House should expedite the enactment a legislated wage increase to boost the purchasing power of ordinary workers against the escalating prices of basic commodities.

"Not only food prices are jacking up right now, but also the cost of petroleum products, electricity and services. Proposed emergency and food subsidies are good, but only a legislated wage hike will empower the public," Revilla said.

Aside from the Senate leadership, Revilla also appealed to the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resource Development to act swiftly on his Senate Bill No. 2179 that would provide a P125 daily across-the-board increase in the salary rates of employees and workers in the private sector.

He stressed that an across-the-board wage increase is preferable rather than basing the salary augmentation on the cost-of-living in each region.

"The escalation of prices is being felt in every part of country. It is only logical that salary adjustments be implemented nationwide and not on a regional basis," he said. "We must take into consideration that the existing living wage rate for a family is already at P850."

Revilla earlier dared employers to agree to a P125 daily across-the-board wage increase or be obliged to double the payment of benefits of their personnel.

He said the employers sector will also benefit if there will be an improved purchasing power of the consuming public, which includes the ordinary workers.

"It would be a give and take scheme. Wage increase means additional money for spending. It would mean more money to buy products and services," he said.

Under SB2179, all employers in the private sector shall pay their workers P125 daily across-the-board wage increase. The increase shall be paid in the following manner: Forty-five pesos a day upon the effectivity of the measure; an additional forty pesos a day a year thereafter; and the remaining amount on the third year.

Defying employers shall be ordered to pay an amount equivalent to double the unpaid benefits owing to their employees. The payment of indemnity shall not absolve the employer from criminal liability which includes a fine from twenty-five thousand pesos to one hundred thousand pesos and imprisonment from two to four years.

"As I said before, a gradual P125 daily wage increase is a win-win solution. Our economy will get into worse if there a will be a mass lay-off and company closure due to an outright salary augmentation." Revilla said.

"It would have been great if we have approved this before May 1. But still, it will be a gift to the Filipino workers when finally passed and approved. We must value our workers, the foundation of our economy, on their contribution to our country," he added.