00:00 It is possible that there will be negative effects on the economy if the cross-the-board wage increase is implemented on the workers,
00:07 according to the group of the Employer and National Economic and Development Authority.
00:11 The group of workers said that 4 million minimum wage earners will be able to cross the poverty line if the increase is approved.
00:19 J.P. Soriano has the first news.
00:24 Julius earns P610 per day as a barista in a coffee shop.
00:30 As a minimum wage earner, he is determined to meet the needs.
00:35 We need to increase so that we can also reach the higher end of the cost.
00:43 The House Committee on Labor and Employment discussed the proposed laws that will give a higher salary to minimum wage earners.
00:52 The proposed salary will be P150 per day.
00:57 This is supported by the groups of workers.
01:01 We will be able to lift 4 million minimum wage earners out of poverty through this legislation based on the poverty threshold.
01:11 The minimum wage in the Philippines is still starvation wages.
01:15 We mean that the minimum wage in the Philippines cannot be exceeded by the working class.
01:23 But the group of employers said that
01:26 its implementation without careful consideration of the consequent economic impact would do more harm than good.
01:33 The National Economic and Development Authority, or NEDA, also did not support the cross-the-board wage increase because of its effect on the economy.
01:43 The proposed bills could slow down GDP growth and could trigger job displacement and accelerate inflation.
01:53 At the same time, it could increase job informality given the higher cost of hiring workers in the formal sector.
02:02 So for them, it's a law.
02:04 I just take refuge in what they said.
02:08 Careful, careful.
02:09 We always recognize the balancing of efforts, the needs of the workers, and also the capacity of our employers.
02:18 This is the first news. J.P. Soriano for GMA Integrated News.
02:24 [Music]
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