Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO._514

Introduced by HONORABLE RAMON JOLO B. REVILLA IL

EXPLANATORY NOTE

No less than the highest law of the land, the Philippine Constitution, recognizes the right

of workers to living wage, along with security of tenure and humane working conditions

Living wage is the amount of family income needed to provide for the cost of living
which includes all food and non-food requirements, with sufficient allowance for savings and
investments for social security, as defined by the National Wages and Productivity Commission

(NWPC).

Due to inflation and other present economic realities, the prices of basic needs and
petroleum continue to rise. The real value of workers’ salaries have significantly decreased
Salaries received by workers are way behind the government's conservative estimate of the cost

of living a family needs in order to survive.
It is therefore timely and necessary to enact a legislation that would alleviate the living
conditions of the people, hence, the filing of this proposed measure of a One Hundred Fifly

Pesos (PHP 150.00) across-the-board wage increase nationwide

Hence, passage of this bill is earnestly sought

RAMON JPLO B. REVILLA ID


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. ‘514

Introduced by HONORABLE RAMON JOLO B. REVILLA IIT

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A PHP150,00 DAILY ACROSS-THE-BOARD INCREASE IN THE
SALARY RATES OF EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress

assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Jitle, ~ This Act shall be known and cited as the “PHP150 Daily

Across-the-Board Wage Increase Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State
to alleviate the living conditions of the ordinary Filipino through policies that provide for decent
and humane standard of living and improved quality of life, particularly of the working class: to
ensure the right of labor to its just share in the fruits of production: to guarantee the 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

SECTION 3. Across-the-Board Wage Increase. — \n line with the declared policy under
this Act. all employers in the private sector, whether agricultural or non-agricultural, revardless
of capitalization and number of employees shall pay their workers an across-the-board wage
increase in the sum of One Hundred Fifty Pesos (PHP150.00) a day upon the effectivity of this
Act.

SECTION 4. 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 legislated across-the-board wage increase under this Act: Provided further, that where
such increase is less than the prescribed 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

SECTION 5. 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

SECTION 6. Jnpection by the DOLE, ~ The Department of Labor and Employment
(DOLE) shall, after approval of this Act, conduct inspection of payroll and other financial
records kept by the company or business to determine whether the workers are paid the
prescribed across-the-board wage increase and other benefits granted by law. In unionized
companies, the DOLE inspectors shall always be accompanied by the president or any
responsible officer of the recognized bargaining unit or of any 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 shall have the right to submit his own
findings to the DOLE and to testify on the same if he cannot concur with the findings of the

labor inspector,

SECTION 7. 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 Fifiy
Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) nor more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) or
imprisonment of not less than two years but not exceeding four 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 noi
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.


SECTION 8. /mplementing Rules and Regulations. ~ The Secretary of Labor and

Employment shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement this Act.

SECTION 9. Sepurubility Clause. ~ Wf any provision or part of this Act or the remainder
of this Act or the application of such provision or part thereof to other persons or circumstances

shall not be affected thereby

SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, orders, issuances, rules and regulations or
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or

modified accordingly

SECTION 11. /:/fectivity Clause. ~ This Act shall take effect within fifteen (15) days

after its publication in the Official Gazette.

Approved,