Impeachment pa More, Wage Hike No More!

The much-anticipated minimum wage increase for millions of Filipino workers is officially dead — at least for this Congress.

Both the House of Representatives and the Senate adjourned sine die on Wednesday without ratifying the proposed wage hike bill, dashing hopes for an across-the-board daily wage increase nationwide. The adjournment marks the official end of the current legislative session, with no chance of revival unless refiled in the next Congress.

The collapse of the measure was sealed when neither chamber conceded to adopt the other’s version of the bill, nor did they convene a bicameral conference committee to reconcile differences. Despite mounting pressure from labor groups, economic think tanks, and even church organizations, the two chambers remained at an impasse.

What Was on the Table

At the heart of the disagreement was the amount of the increase. The Senate version, passed in February, proposed a ₱100 across-the-board daily wage hike for private-sector workers nationwide. The House of Representatives, on the other hand, favored a ₱150 increase, but only for workers in the private sector outside Metro Manila, with a separate review for the National Capital Region.

Lawmakers from both chambers exchanged statements in recent weeks, blaming each other for the gridlock. While senators argued that their version was more fiscally responsible and evenly applied, House leaders contended that a higher adjustment was necessary to help ordinary Filipinos cope with soaring inflation and rising costs of living.

In the end, neither side blinked, and the bill died a procedural death as the gavel fell on the 19th Congress.

Impact on Workers

The failure to pass the measure means that no additional mandated daily wage hike will be forthcoming from the national government anytime soon. For workers, especially those earning the current minimum wages of ₱610 in Metro Manila and ₱350 to ₱450 in provinces, it’s a bitter pill to swallow amid escalating prices of basic goods, transportation, and services.

Labor groups such as Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) and the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) had staged rallies urging Congress to act before adjournment, warning that failure to pass the bill would deepen poverty and inequality.

Economic Concerns Cited

Business groups and some government economic managers, however, had raised red flags over the proposed hikes, warning that mandated wage increases could burden small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and potentially lead to layoffs or closures, particularly in the provinces.

Several senators and House leaders echoed these concerns, calling instead for localized, sector-based wage increases through regional wage boards, rather than a legislated nationwide hike.

What’s Next?

With the 19th Congress now adjourned, any wage increase legislation will have to be refiled in the next session. Until then, minimum wage adjustments will remain the responsibility of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs), which labor groups argue are too slow and ineffective at addressing workers’ needs.

For now, Filipino workers go home empty-handed, with no legislated wage increase to cushion them against the continued economic challenges they face daily.