PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. emphasized the need for careful consideration of the legal and economic impacts of proposed wage increases, especially on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Speaking to the media on Friday, January 31, 2025, in Pasay City, Marcos highlighted the importance of finding a balanced solution that supports both small business owners and regular wage earners.
“The employers are worried na sinasabi nila lalong-lalo na ‘yung mga maliliit na employer, halimbawa mga sari-sari store, mga parlor, beauty parlor, ‘yung mga ganoon, ‘yung maliliit lamang,” Marcos said.
(The employers are worried, especially the smaller ones, like sari-sari stores, parlors, beauty parlors, and others like them — the small ones.)
“Pero palagay ko naman there is a way to increase that, but we have to resolve the legal issues, we have to resolve the economic issues. So, it still deserves a great deal of study,” Marcos said.
(But I think there is a way to increase that, but we need to address the legal and economic issues first. So, it still requires thorough study.)
He added that wage increases are determined by the tripartite board established by Congress.
“We have a tripartite board that actually decides on wage increases, and we need to carefully examine how this will work,” he added. “This body was created by Congress, and it needs to study the issue further.”
Wage hike
On Thursday, the House Committee on labor and employment approved a substitute bill proposing a P200 across-the-board daily wage increase.
The bill was unanimously approved by the 10-member panel.
This move followed House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s support for the wage hike after a meeting with labor groups on January 28.
The proposed increase, which aims to benefit about 5 million minimum wage workers, is seen as a crucial step toward inclusive growth, though some lawmakers, such as ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro, continue to push for a higher P750 increase. (JGS/SunStar Philippines)
