P200 Daily Wage Hike! Legarda Files Bill to Give Filipino Workers Their First Nationwide Raise in 40 Years

Senator Loren Legarda has filed Senate Bill 1856, proposing a P200 daily minimum wage increase for private sector workers across the Philippines. If passed, it would be the first nationwide legislative wage hike in nearly 40 years — the last one was RA 6727 in 1989, which only mandated a P25 increase.

According to the bill's explanatory note, PSA data shows the poverty threshold for a family of five is about P13,873 per month or P462.43 per day. Current minimum wage rates in many regions fall short of this — only 52.94 percent of regions offer nonagricultural wages that even surpass basic living costs. Sa madaling salita, kulang na kulang ang sahod para mabuhay nang maayos.

The IBON Foundation's research paints an even grimmer picture: the gap between the daily nominal minimum wage and the actual family living wage is as high as 79.85 percent in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Legarda's bill frames the increase around the International Labor Organization's definition of a "living wage" — one that covers food, shelter, education, health care, and social participation.

"The denial of a just share in the fruits of their labor has left our workers struggling," Legarda said. "This bill aims not only to provide immediate relief through a P200 daily wage increase but also to stimulate the economy by expanding consumers' purchasing power across all sectors." Economists agree the move could significantly boost consumer spending and stimulate domestic demand.

The proposed measure is already gaining traction, with various labor groups and social advocates throwing their support behind it. Whether the bill makes it through Congress remains to be seen, but for millions of Filipino workers earning poverty-level wages, the push for a living wage is long overdue.

Source: The Manila Times
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