By Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos
Malacañang said yesterday that increasing the national minimum wage would be legally impossible and have implications on inflation.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, in a Palace press briefing, agreed that increasing the minimum wage would make the country’s inflation rate go up as companies would be compelled to hike the prices of their products and or services.
“Meron ding posibilidad na habang tinataas ang sweldo, maraming mawalan din ng trabaho. Kaya nga po kinakailangang pag-aralang mabuti,” Roque said.
“Kaya po ang senyales ay binigay na ng Presidente para simulan na ang proseso ng pag-aaral kung talagang kailangang itaas ang minimum wage,” he added.
“Ang ginawa lang po ni Presidente, sinimulan na ang proseso kasi nga po, without this directive, eh kinakailangan mag-file pa ng petition para magsimula,” Roque said.
Malacañang has revealed that President Duterte has ordered the regional wage boards, through the Department of Labor and Employment, to study if there is a need to increase the minimum wage amid the increasing prices of commodities due to surging oil prices in the world market.
“Sinabi na ni (Labor) Secretary (Silvestre) Bello iyong mga regional wage board magpulong na. Tingnan kung dapat itaas iyong mga minimum wage dahil alam natin mas mataas ang bilihin, kinakailangan mas mataas ang sahod,” Roque said.
“Kaya lang po may proseso, hindi na puwedeng national iyan kasi may batas po na ginawang regional.”
