Schate Office of the Suretare TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session A9:38 25 AUG 28 SENATE RECEIVED BY: Senate Bill No. _ 1306 Introduced by Senator Erwin T. Tulfo AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A ONE HUNDRED PESOS (P100.00) DAILY MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE FOR EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 3, Article XIII of the 1987 Constitution states that the
state shall afford full protection to labor, local and overseas, organized and unorganized, and promote full employment and equality of employment opportunities for all. This affirms the right of Filipino workers to receive a living wage. Over the past years, the cost of living in the Philippines has significantly increased due to inflation, rising food prices and transportation costs, and other economic pressures. While the minimum wage is periodically adjusted through regional wage boards, the adjustments have not kept pace with the real essential needs of workers and their families. Employees in the private sector, particularly the minimum wage earners, continue to struggle to make ends meet despite working full- time. The take home wage of many Filipinos is simply not enough to cover the most basic needs: food, shelter, transportation, education, and healthcare. This means that many Filipinos are forced to take multiple jobs, cut down on meals, even delay sending their children to school just to survive.
This bill seeks to mandate a P100.00 minimum wage increase for workers in the private sector. It aims to address the widening gap between workers' wage and the rising cost of living. Increasing the daily minimum wage is about recognizing the true value of labor by upholding the dignity of every Filipino workers. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. ERWIN T. TULFO
Senate or ffice of the secretare TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 AUG 28 A9:38 RECEIVED BY: SENATE Senate Bill No. 1306 Introduced by Senator Erwin T. Tulfo AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A ONE HUNDRED PESOS (P100.00) DAILY MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE FOR EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "P100
Daily Minimum Wage Increase Act of 2025".
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is a policy of the State to
alleviate the living conditions of the ordinary Filipino through policies 6 that provide for a decent and humane standard of living and improved > quality of life, particularly of the working class by ensuring the right of 8 labor to its just share in the fruits of production, to guarantee the 9 workers' right to a living wage, and to promote social justice through the adoption of measures calculated to ensure the well-being and economic security of all the members of the community.
SEC. 3. Wage Increase. - The daily rate of all minimum wage
workers in the private sector, regardless of employment status, including those in contractual and subcontractual arrangements, whether agricultural or non-agricultural, shall be increased by One 17 Hundred Pesos (P100.00) upon the effectivity of this Act. Nothing in
this Act shall prevent the respective Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards to grant additional increases to the workers and employees on the basis of their determination pursuant to Republic Act No. 6727, otherwise known as the "Wage Rationalization Act" , as amended.
SEC. 4. Correction of Wage Distortion. - Where a wage
distortion occurs as a result of the increase in minimum wage under this Act, the employer and the union, or the employer and the workers, in the absence of a union, shall negotiate to correct the distortion in accordance with the provisions of Article 124 of Presidential Decree No. 442 or the "Labor Code of the Philippines" ", as amended, and other existing laws, rules and regulations.
SEC. 5. Non-Chargeability of Prior Increases. - No wage
increase shall be credited as compliance with the increase prescribed herein unless expressly provided under valid collective bargaining agreements: Provided, That such wage increase was granted in anticipation of the minimum wage increase under this Act, the employer shall pay the difference. Such increases shall not include anniversary wage increases, merit wage increases and those resulting from the regularization or promotion of employees.
SEC. 6. Non-Diminution of Other Benefits. - Nothing in this Act
shall be construed to reduce any existing allowance and benefit of any form under existing laws, decrees, issuances, executive orders, and any contract or agreement between workers and employers.
SEC. 7. Inspection by the Department of Labor and Employment
(DOLE). - The DOLE shall conduct inspection of payroll and other financial records kept by the company or business to determine whether the workers are paid the prescribed minimum wage increase and other benefits granted by law. The said inspection may take place at any time of the day or night, whenever work is being undertaken. In unionized companies, the DOLE inspectors shall always be accompanied by the president or any responsible officer of the recognized bargaining unit 37 or of interested union in the conduct of the inspection. In non-unionized
companies, establishments or businesses, the inspection should be carried out in the presence of a workers' representative.
SEC. 8. Penalties. - Any person, corporation, trust, firm,
partnership, association or entity violating any provision of this Act shall be punished by a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) but not more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) plus moral damages for each affected worker and the costs of litigation including attorney's fees, or imprisonment of not less than two (2) years nor more than four (4) years, or both at the discretion of the court: Provided, That if the violation is committed by a corporation, trust or firm, association or any other entity, the penalty of imprisonment shall be imposed upon the entity's responsible officers including, but not limited to, the president, vice president, chief executive officer, general manager, managing director or partner. The employer concerned shall be ordered to pay an amount equivalent to double the unpaid benefits owing to the employees: Provided, That the payment of indemnity shall not absolve the employer from the criminal liability imposable under this Act: Provided, further, That any person convicted under this Act shall not be entitled to the benefits provided for under the Probation Law. In case a fine and/or indemnity is decreed by the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) against person/s who violated the provisions of this Act and cannot be immediately satisfied because of the refusal to pay, or in case of the unavailability or inadequacy of funds, the bank deposits, financial interests and other personal property not capable of manual delivery in the possession or control of third parties of the owner in case of sole proprietorship or the assets of the corporation, association or any other entity, shall be garnished. If such properties are not enough, movable and immovable properties may be levied to fully satisfy the imposed fines and/or indemnities. Failure on the part of any corporation, trust or firm, partnership, association or any other entity to comply with the provisions of this Act shall be a ground for non-renewal of business permits.
SEC. 9. Construction in Favor of Labor. - All doubts in the
implementation and interpretation of the provisions of this Act, including its implementing rules and regulations, shall be resolved in favor of labor.
SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary
7 of Labor and Employment shall promulgate the necessary rules and 8 regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
SEC. 11. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is
held unconstitutional, the remainder thereof not otherwise affected 12 shall remain in full force and effect.
SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders,
rules and regulations and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
SEC. 13. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after
fifteen (15) days following the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,