Malacañang on Tuesday denied that the approval and announcement of the ₱85 daily minimum wage increase in Metro Manila was timed with the ongoing protest actions along EDSA.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the wage hike was the result of months of study and evaluation by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board, well before the “surprise rally” at EDSA.
“Huwag nilang bigyan ng malisya kung ngayon in-announce. Kasi mayroong mga mambabatas humihiling na itaas ang sweldo ‘di ba? ‘Pag ngayon binigay at itinaas ang sweldo, sasabihin nila tina-timing. So, hindi na natin alam kung saan tayo pupunta (They should not attach malice to the timing of the announcement. There are lawmakers asking for higher wages. If the wage increase is granted now, they will say it was timed. So, we no longer know where to place ourselves.),” Usec. Castro said in a press briefing.
Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino announced Tuesday that minimum wage earners in Metro Manila will receive an P85 daily wage increase, benefiting around 1.1 million workers.
The increase will be implemented in two tranches. The first tranche of P60 will take effect on July 19, while the second tranche of P25 will take effect on January 20, 2027.
Once fully implemented, the minimum wage in Metro Manila will rise to P780 per day from ₱695 for non-agricultural workers, and to P743 from P658 for agricultural workers.
Asked about the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines’ position that the increase should be P200 per day instead of P85, Castro said the government recognizes the plight of workers but must also consider employers’ capacity to absorb higher labor costs.
“Mahirap po na magbigay bigla ng malaking sweldo, tapos hindi rin kakayanin ng employers,” Castro said.
(It would be difficult to suddenly grant a large wage increase if employers cannot afford it.)
“Mag-lay off ng employees, mas mawawalan ng trabaho ang iba nating mga kababayan, mas maraming magkakaroon ng unemployment. Ang unemployment ay tataas na naman (Employees may be laid off, more Filipinos may lose their jobs, unemployment will increase, and the unemployment rate may rise again.),” she added.