Senator Joel Villanueva is urging the Marcos administration to certify the proposed wage hike bill as urgent, raising the need to improve Filipino workers’ standard of living.
As Chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resource Development, Villanueva pointed out that despite the Philippine economy’s 5.6% growth in 2024, this progress must translate into better conditions for workers.
“The window for the 19th Congress is slowly closing, which is why we need to speed up discussions and ensure the bill’s enactment before we adjourn,” the lawmaker said.
“Sa taas ng presyo ng bilihin, kailangan rin po nating siguraduhin na may kakayahang mamuhay nang maayos ang ating mga kababayan,” he added, emphasizing the impact of rising costs on Filipino families.
Senate Bill No. 2534, or the P100 Minimum Wage Hike Increase bill, which Villanueva co-authored, passed its third reading in the Senate on February 19, 2024.
He welcomed ongoing discussions in the House of Representatives and stressed the urgency of adjusting wages to match the cost of living.IMT
