HERE is something good enough to read: The House of Representatives approved on its  third and final reading, House Bill No. 11376, which seeks to impose a P200 hike in the daily wage of minimum wage workers in the private sector.

The congressman had 171 affirmative votes, on negative and no abstentions.

The Senate had passed a counterpart bill last year.

According to House Leaders, if signed into law, it will be the first legislated nationwide wage hike since the Wage Rationalization Act in 1989.  

According to TUCP Party-list Rep. Raymond Mendoza, one of the principal authors of the bill, he was grateful that the bill passed congress.

However, Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, also a principal author of the measure, explained that while she voted yes, she had reservations since they had been pushing for a P750 wage increase based on the family living wage.  

She said that based on the IBON Foundation data, she said a family of five needs P1,225 as living wage.

The average wage in the country is P470.  

Meanwhile, the labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno urged President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., to sign the bill once transmitted to his office, saying a veto would “expose” the government as being “anti-worker.”

Earlier, employers’ groups had issued a caution against wage hikes, saying companies may have to let people go to cut labor costs.

They also said higher wages would lead to increased prices because the extra cost will be passed on to consumers to ensure profits.