Lacson backs DOLE's call to review minimum wage amid rising fuel cost

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Thursday expressed support to the Department of Labor and Employment’s order to review the minimum wage of workers amid the rising cost of fuel prices.

In a radio interview, the presidential candidate of Partido Reporma lauded the timeliness of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III’s order.

Lacson recalled that in their recent town hall meetings that were part of their campaign, some individuals have told them that their income is no longer sufficient to cover their daily expenses.

“Ang isang pangkaraniwang na-experience namin ni Senate President [Vicente] Sotto, ‘yung mga manggagawa natin umiiyak na sila dahil sa taas ng bilihin, may inflation na kasi nasa 3.7% na ang inflation rate natin,” Lacson said.

(One of the common concerns that we hear was our workers are already crying because of the high costs of goods because our inflation rate is at around 3.7%.)

Senate President Vicente Sotto III is Lacson's running-mate in the 2022 national and local elections.

“So tama lang, napaka-timely ang panawagan ni Secretary Bello na mag-meet ‘yung wage board, ‘yung tripartite wage board, para pag-usapan kung dapat na bang i-adjust ‘yung minimum wage ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.

(It is timely that Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III called for a meeting of the tripartite wage boards to discuss possible adjustments to the minimum wages of our workers.)

While some middle-income families could absorb the higher costs of living, ordinary Filipino families may not, Lacson further said.

“Sa pangkaraniwang pamilya ay baka hindi na sapat ang P537. So dapat talagang pag-usapan na at dapat mag-adjust ang ating minimum wage earners,” he said.

(For ordinary families, P537 may not be enough for their daily needs. We have to discuss if there is a need to adjust the minimum wage, and by how much.)

In a statement Monday, Bello said he ordered the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) across the country to hasten the review of minimum wages.

“The current daily minimum wage in the National Capital Region (NCR), for instance, of P537 may no longer cope with the price of basic commodities such as food, electricity and water bills," Bello said.

The RTWPBs’ recommendations are expected before the end of April. —KBK, GMA News