Lacson says review of minimum wage timely, necessary

MANILA – Partido Reporma standard-bearer, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, on Thursday said a review of minimum wages is timely and necessary to help laborers cope with the surging costs of fuel amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

He added that one of the most common complaints he and his running mate, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, have heard from people during their town hall meetings involved the rising costs of living.

“Napaka-timely ang panawagan ni Secretary Bello na mag-meet ang tripartite wage board para pag-usapan kung kailangan na bang i-adjust ang minimum wage ng ating mga kababayan (It is timely that Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III called for a meeting of the tripartite wage boards to discuss possible adjustments to the minimum wages of our workers),” he said in an interview with Bombo Radyo.

Lacson said many workers he and Sotto have met are virtually crying due to the high cost of goods and services, caused by high oil prices and compounded by inflation.

Lacson said while the wealthy can absorb the higher costs of living, ordinary families may not.

Also, the presidential aspirant pointed out the need to balance the call of our workers for a higher wage, and the capacity of employers to pay these higher salaries.

“So dapat talaga pag-usapan natin kung dapat i-adjust ang ating minimum wage (We have to discuss if there is a need to adjust the minimum wage, and by how much),” he said.

On Wednesday, the Department of Labor and Employment said it has already ordered regional wage boards across the country to look into the need to increase the salaries of workers amid soaring oil prices.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III admitted that the current minimum wage for workers may not be enough as skyrocketing fuel prices continue to take a toll on the local economy.