Workers condemn ‘killing’ of legislated P200 wage hike

June 13, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Workers yesterday took to the streets not only to commemorate Independence Day, but also to express their condemnation of the “killing” of the legislated P200 across-the-board wage increase.

The Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Sentro and Federation of Free Workers (FFW) vowed to continue fighting for a substantial wage increase despite Congress’ failure to reconcile and enact the proposed legislated wage hike bills.

Sentro said President Marcos killed the wage bill in connivance with Speaker Martin Romualdez and Senate President Francis Escudero.

“BBM has made his position clear: he prefers to keep workers at the mercy of broken regional wage boards – the same outdated system that has kept wages criminally low for decades,” Sentro said, referring to Marcos. “Workers see this betrayal. We will remember. And we will fight back.”

KMU said the killing of wage bill by Marcos and his cohorts is “unacceptable and unforgivable” as it called on workers to express their outrage by joining the continuing fight for living wages outside the halls of parliament.

For FFW, the government has set aside the chance of getting workers freed from poverty and hunger with the passage of a legislated wage bill.

The government economic team had warned of the adverse impact of a legislated wage hike on businesses, jobs, inflation and the economy.

Business groups had warned of job losses and shutdowns especially of small enterprises that make up the majority of businesses in the country.

The law leaves wage fixing to tripartite boards. Employers and business groups had complained that they were not consulted in the legislated wage hike. Opponents of the measure warned of the adverse consequences of politicizing wage fixing.

House criticizes Senate

The House of Representatives condemned the Senate’s refusal to convene a bicameral conference committee on the legislated wage hike bill, calling it a deliberate act that led to the bill’s death on the final night of session.

“Let’s not sugarcoat it. The Senate killed the P200 wage hike bill,” said Princess Abante, the House spokesperson.

“Last night was the final session of the 19th Congress. No bicam. No compromise. No wage hike. And the reason is simple: the Senate doesn’t want to talk. They want Congress to just accept their P100 version. Why? Why are they giving loose change to the workers?” she added.

Abante said the House bicameral conferees had been fully prepared to meet and reconcile the differing versions of the bill in good faith – but the Senate’s inaction left them dumbfounded.

The House had approved its version of the bill, which grants a P200 daily wage increase, on third reading and submitted its bicameral panel several days prior to adjournment.

The Senate, however, only named its conferees on the eve of sine die and refused to engage in bicam talks, effectively insisting that the House adopt its watered-down P100 version without discussion.

House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro and ACT Teachers party-list Rep.-elect Antonio Tinio condemned the Senate and the Marcos administration for prioritizing the interests of big businesses over the welfare of Filipino workers.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña slammed the Senate and the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council, which Marcos chairs, for their failure to support and act on the proposed legislated wage hike. Cendaña vowed to re-file the wage hike bill in the 20th Congress. – Jose Rodel Clapano, Delon Porcalla

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