Workers laud Sen. Bong Revilla for filing wage hike bill

Labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno lauded today Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. for filing Senate Bill 1981 which seeks to legislate a P125 across-the-board wage hike for private-sector workers in the country, saying the senator’s move is also a boost for House Bill 375 which has the same intent.

“We are glad that someone in the Senate has stood up and responded to calls made by the Filipino workers and people for a significant wage hike. Sen. Revilla’s statements about upholding social justice and workers’ right to a living salary are music to our ears given the current government’s uncaring attitude towards our plight,” said Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU chairperson.

“We hope that other senators will follow Sen. Revilla’s lead and at the minimum support the passage of his bill. Senators should side with the Filipino workers and people on this issue,” he added.

Should Revilla’s bill be approved, the P125 wage hike will be implemented over a period of three years: P45 in the first year, P40 in the second year, and P40 in the third year.

“While we do not agree with Senator Revilla’s proposed mode of granting workers a wage hike over a three-year period, we salute his push to legislate a wage increase that will be implemented across-the-board nationwide, with an amount that is higher than any amount ever approved by the country’s regional wage boards,” Labog said.

“Sen. Revilla’s pro-worker and pro-people stand on the issue of wage hike is definitely better than Pres. Noynoy Aquino’s opposition to a significant wage increase. While Sen. Revilla was once called ‘Alyas Pogi’ in one of his films, Pres. Aquino must be called ‘Puro Papogi’ in his real-life performance as president,” he added.

KMU also said the filing of SB 1981 is a boost for a bill in the House of Representatives seeking to legislate a P125 across-the-board wage hike nationwide.

“Sen. Revilla’s move should send a signal to members of the House of Representatives that they should now discuss House Bill 375 filed by Anakpawis Partylist Rep. Rafael Mariano. Sen. Revilla has stated bases for the Lower House to now discuss and approve this most urgent bill for a significant wage hike,” Labog said.