SENATE President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri appealed to members of the House of Representatives to pass the counterpart of the wage hike bill.

The Senate on Wednesday passed on second reading Senate Bill 2534 or the P100 Wage Hike Bill.

"This is our Valentine's Day gift to all our workers," Zubiri said.

Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri. Photo from Senate Social Media Unit

He added that if enacted into law, this would be the first time since 1989 that a legislated pay hike would be implemented nationwide.

"I think this is the farthest this measure has ever been since a similar bill was passed many years ago. We feel that it's time to help increase the minimum wage of our workers, particularly those in Visayas and Mindanao who are currently earning P360 a day. How can you live with P360 a day? It's impossible. Once this bill is passed and becomes a law, this will provide a great relief to our poor and hardworking employees," the Senate president said.

Meanwhile, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) was optimistic that the proposed P100 wage increase will not be enacted into a law.

"Even the Department of Labor and Employment is against it, all academicians, everyone is against that," ECOP President Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. said.

He added that the wage hike's impact on small and medium-sized businesses would likely worsen inflation because companies would likely pass the increased cost of production to the consumer.

Ortiz-Luis said that the informal sector that includes farmers, fisherfolk, vendors, tricycle drivers, jeepney drivers, pedicab drivers, ambulant vendors and temporary workers in construction would likely be affected by the measure.

"They are giving attention to those in the minority, the 10 percent. Their wages are increasing yearly [and] they are in a better position," he said.

Ortiz-Luis said the wage hike might even deter investors.

"So, if they don't like to take a chance, they just go to countries with more established policies like Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia. Here in the Philippines, this is a perfect example of the arbitrariness that scares investors," he said.

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