By Leslie Ann G. Aquino
A number of labor groups expressed support of House Bill 7787 otherwise known as the National Minimum Wage Law that seeks a uniform P750 across-the-board minimum wage for all workers nationwide.
The Partido Manggagawa even urged President Duterte to certify the bill filed by the Makabayan bloc as an urgent measure as it will pave the way for the realization of his commitment to labor groups in their dialogues to abolish what he termed as “provincial rate” of wages.
“We also call on all labor groups to close ranks and form a stronger unity that will push for the demand to raise wages and to abolish the regional wage boards by amending RA 6727 or the wage rationalization act of 1989,” Rene Magtubo, PM chairperson, said in a statement.
Alan Tanjusay of the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) said they are supporting the measure because workers and their families are in “desperate need” of a steady and additional wage increase for them to cope with fast and furious rising cost of living due to sudden uptick of inflation and sudden drop of the purchasing power of their wage.