Escudero wants discussion between Senate, private sector on legislated wage hike

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero expressed his willingness to discuss the proposed legislated wage hike with the private sector on Wednesday.

In an ambush interview on the sidelines of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry's event in Makati City, Escudero said he still supports the Senate bill, which seeks to increase the daily minimum wage of workers in the private sector by P100.

Senate Bill 2534 was approved on third and final reading in February, under the leadership of Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, whom he replaced as Senate president in May.

"Isa ako sa mga bumoto at pumabor doon (I am one of the senators who voted in favor of that bill) ...  I haven’t changed my position, and I don’t see the need to change my position prior to my assumption as Senate President," Escudero said.

Escudero mentioned a possible meeting with stakeholders as he found the P35 increase, which was recently approved by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) for workers in the National Capital Region,''not enough.''

"It has to start with something. Definitely, P35 is not enough. If what we’re proposing is too much, then let’s talk," he said.

On Monday, several labor groups called on President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to certify the proposed measures for a P150 increase in the minimum wage of private sector employees as urgent.

The National Wage Coalition (NWC) made the call a week before Marcos’ third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22. —VBL, GMA Integrated News