Senate vows better pay, conditions for Filipino workers

On Labor Day, the Senate reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the rights of Filipino workers, emphasizing the need for better compensation and improved working conditions.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri highlighted the crucial role of the workforce in the nation's economic progress and expressed concern that their contributions are often undervalued.

He mentioned the Senate's passage of a bill calling for a P100 across-the-board minimum wage increase for workers in the private sector in February, expressing hope for its swift approval by the House of Representatives.

Senator Joel Villanueva assured Filipino laborers that the Senate is actively crafting new measures, including the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act and the Enterprise-Based Education and Training Bill, designed to enhance their protection, welfare, and skills development.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada confirmed that efforts are underway to harmonize the Senate and House versions of the P100 daily minimum wage increase bill.

Meanwhile, at the House of Representatives, separate bills seeking to increase private sector wages by P150 to P750 have been filed, along with a bill mandating a P33,000-a-month entry wage for state workers.

Senator Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel stated that the government must address the plight of formal and informal workers, especially as they work through extreme heat and weather.