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Govt. subsidies eyed for min wage earners
By Nidz Godino
“A number of sectors have raised possibility of government subsidizing proposed wage increase during hearing… I think this is sound idea, but we also have to ask our economic managers whether government can also cover cost of such subsidies,” House committee on labor and employment chairman Rep. Fidel Nograles (Rizal, fourth district) is eyeing government subsidies for minimum wage earners, to offset inflation and its negative impact on their living conditions.
Nograles wants to be sure government can afford to provide wage subsidies in light of pending bills in Congress such as one in the House, seeks to provide wage hike ranging from P150 to P750.
“Can government afford wage subsidies?” he asked after various sectors threw their support behind provision of wage subsidies so that companies could fund minimum wage increase, in light of Senate-approved P100 legislated wage hike.
Proposal to increase minimum wages has elicited mixed proposals,workers’ groups say wage increase could help them cope with high cost of living, while employers claim they would be hard put and warn of layoffs and company shutdowns.
Nograles would direct his committee to ask for government’s input regarding wage subsidy. “Besides wage subsidy, we will also continue to find measures that could help us come up with win-win situation for all involved.”
Earlier , Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe said House, under leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez, is studying proposals for P150 to P350 per day legislated wage increase.
He said House recognizes dire situation of Filipino workers who are grappling with adverse effects of inflation and decreased purchasing power due to global fiscal crisis and conflicts.
“Our workers are enduring tough times, and as their representatives, it is imperative that we find substantial solutions to alleviate their financial burdens,” the Zamboanga City congressman pointed out.
Dalipe said the Speaker has tasked House leadership to identify effective methods to enhance workers’ take-home pay, including legislated wage hike or revisions to regional wage board mechanism.
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