P200 Minimum Daily Wage Hike Nears Historic Approval
The proposed P200 minimum daily wage hike moved closer to becoming law after the House of Representatives approved it on third and final reading on June 4. Garnering 171 votes in favor, House Bill No. 11376, also known as the “Wage Hike for Minimum Wage Workers Act,” saw overwhelming support. Only one lawmaker opposed it, and no one abstained.
Deputy Speaker and TUCP Party-list Representative Raymond Democrito Mendoza, a staunch advocate for workers’ rights, presided over the session and declared the measure approved. Mendoza expressed elation, noting this wage increase marks a significant milestone since the last legislated hike was in 1989.
“We kept the faith. Under the leadership of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Gomez Romualdez—who stood with us in this long, hard struggle and accomplished what no other Speaker in the past 36 years has dared to do—we are righting the historic wrong of barya-barya (measly hikes) from regional wage boards,” Mendoza said on the plenary floor.
Key Provisions of the P200 Minimum Daily Wage Hike
The bill targets private sector workers, including those under contractual and subcontractual arrangements, both in agricultural and non-agricultural sectors. It mandates a P200 daily increase for all minimum wage earners regardless of employment status.
To support compliance, the measure allows small enterprises to avail incentives from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), subject to implementing rules. However, Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs) are exempted from this wage increase.
Violators of the law face penalties ranging from fines of P100,000 to P500,000 and/or imprisonment from two to four years. This strict enforcement aims to ensure fair wages are given across the board.
Legislative Journey and Next Steps
The bill passed second reading on February 3, just before Congress took a four-month recess for midterm elections. The 19th Congress reconvened on June 2, swiftly moving the bill to final passage.
Speaker Romualdez earlier urged Congress to fast-track the bill following President Marcos’ directive. The House responded by rapidly advancing the bill beyond committee levels to plenary consideration.
Meanwhile, the Senate has its counterpart measure, Senate Bill No. 2534, which proposes a P100 daily wage hike for private sector workers. This bill was approved on third reading on February 19, 2024.
Both bills will enter the Bicameral Conference Committee for harmonization, where members from both chambers will reconcile differences to produce a final version for the President’s signature.
This historic wage increase aims to improve the living standards of millions of Filipino workers and address long-standing wage inadequacies.
For more news and updates on P200 minimum daily wage hike, visit Filipinokami.com.