TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
25 JUL-2 P4 :10
)
SENATE 
S. No.___ 6
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JV EJERCITO
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A TWO HUNDRED FIFTY PESOS ACROSS THE BOARD 
INCREASE IN THE DAILY MINIMUM WAGE OF EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS 
IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
How much is the dignity of a Filipino worker? The answer is clear—it is priceless.
Construction workers have built houses, yet most struggle to pay their monthiy 
rent, if not homeless themselves. They have laid the foundation of our roads and 
bridges but most of them had to walk to their jobs due to the high cost of fares. 
Waiters serve us the food we ordered but some of them had to skip meals to save up 
for their own family's dinner.
This is the irony of life experienced by a Filipino worker: he does not even 
possess the amount of money to purchase the goods his hands have produced. He is 
often, if not always, underpaid for the work and services he has rendered. Not because 
his employer deliberately does so, but for the reason that the minimum wage cannot 
keep up with external forces such as inflation.
The recent P50 wage hike implemented in the National Capital Region by the 
Marcos administration is commendable and a good start towards achieving living 
wage. However, across the Philippines, the daily minimum wage of workers falls short


of their financial needs. It cannot cover their expenses for rent, eiectricity, 
transportation, health care, education for their children and perhaps, most 
Importantly, food. The rise in fuei prices brought about by wars in oil producing 
countries have created a domino effect in the increase in prices of basic commodities. 
Consequently, the take home pay of a worker becomes smaller and its purchasing 
value lesser. When purchase value of salary decreases, this would mean that workers 
are being asked to do more than what they are being paid for.
This bill seeks to bridge the gap to the decreasing purchase value of the take 
home pay of a worker and the rising cost of living. It provides a two hundred fifty 
pesos (P 250.00) across the board increase in the minimum wage of employees of the 
private sector. They are not handed out something that they do not deserve or not 
worthy of. There is no amount of money that can equal the dignity of a Fiiipino worker.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnestiy sought.
JV EJERCITO


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
25 JUL-2 P4 :10
SENATE 
S. No.___6_
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JV EJERCITO
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A TWO HUNDRED FIFTY PESOS ACROSS THE BOARD 
INCREASE IN THE DAILY MINIMUM WAGE OF EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS 
IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Tide. - This Act shall be known as the P250 Daily Minimum
2 
Wage Increase Act of 2025".
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is a policy of the State to alleviate the
4 
living conditions of the ordinary Filipino through policies that provide for a
5 
decent and humane standard of living and improved quality of life, particularly of
6 
the working class by ensuring the right of labor to its just share in the fruits
7 
of production, to guarantee the workers' right to a living wage, and to promote
8 
social justice through the adoption of measures calculated to ensure the well-
9 
being and economic security of all the members of the community.
10 
Sec. 3. Wage Increase. - The daily rate of all minimum wage workers
11 
in the private sector, 
regardless of employment status, including those in
12 
contractual and subcontractual arrangements, 
whether agricultural or non-
13 
agricultural, shall be 
Increased by Two hundred Fifty Pesos (P250.00) upon the
14 
effectivity of this Act. Nothing in this Act shall prevent the respective Regional
15 
Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards to grant additional increases to the
16 
workers and employees on the basis of their determination pursuant to
17 
Republic Act No. 6727, otherwise known as the "Wage Rationalization Act",
18 
as amended.


1 
Sec. 4. Correction of Wage Distortion. - Where a wage distortion occurs as a
2 
resuit of the increase in minimum wage under this Act, the employer and the
3 
union, or the employer and the workers, in the absence of a union, shali negotiate
4 
to correct the distortion in accordance with the provisions of Articie 124 of
5 
Presidentiai Decree No. 442 or the "Labor Code of the Philippines", as amended, and
6 
other existing laws, rules and regulations.
7 
Sec. 5. Non-Chargeabiiity of Prior Increases. - No wage increase shali be
8 
credited as compliance with the increase prescribed herein uniess expressly provided
9 
under valid coilective bargaining agreements: Provided, That such wage increase
10 
was granted in anticipation of the minimum wage increase under this Act:
11 
Provided, further. That where such increase is less than the prescribed increase
12 
under this Act, the employer shall pay the difference. Such increases shall
13 
not include anniversary wage increases, merit wage increases and those resulting
14 
from the regularization or promotion of employees.
15 
SEC. 6. Non-Diminution of Other Benefits. - Nothing in this Act shall be construed
16 
to reduce any existing allowance and benefit of any form under existing laws,
17 
decrees, issuances, executive orders, and any contract or agreement between workers
18 
and employers.
19 
SEC. 7. Inspection by the Department of Labor and Empioyment (DOLE). -
20 
The DOLE shall conduct inspection of payroll and other financial records kept by the
21 
company or business to determine whether the workers are paid the prescribed
22 
minimum wage increase and other benefits granted by law. The said inspection
23 
may take place at any time of the day or night, whenever work is being
24 
undertaken. In unionized companies, the DOLE inspectors shall always be
25 
accompanied by the president or any responsible officer of the recognized
26 
bargaining unit or of interested union in the conduct of the inspection. In non-
27 
unionized companies, establishments or businesses, the inspection should be
28 
carried out in the presence of a workers' representative.
29 
SEC. 8. Penalties. - Any person, corporation, trust, firm, partnership,
30 
association or entity violating any provision of this Act shall be punished by a
31 
fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) but not more than One
32 
hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) plus moral damages for each affected


1 
worker and the costs of litigation including attorney's fees, or imprisonment of not
2 
less than two (2) years nor more than four (4) years, or both at the discretion of
3 
the court: Provided, That if the violation is committed by a corporation, trust or
4 
firm, association or any other entity, the penalty of imprisonment shali be
5 
imposed upon the entity's responsible officers inciuding, but not limited to, the
6 
president, vice president, chief executive officer, general manager, managing
7 
director or partner.
8 
The employer concerned shall be ordered to pay an amount equivalent to
9 
double the unpaid benefits owing to the employees: Provided, That the payment
10 
of indemnity shall not absolve the employer from the criminal liability imposable
11 
under this Act: Provided, further. That any person convicted under this Act shall
12 
not be entitled to the benefits provided for under the Probation Law.
13 
In case a fine and/or indemnity is decreed by the National Labor Relations
14 
Commission (NLRC) against person/s who violated the provisions of this Act and
15 
cannot be immediately satisfied because of the refusal to pay, or in case of the
16 
unavailability or inadequacy of funds, the bank deposits, financial interests and
17 
other personal property not capable of manual delivery in the possession or control
18 
of third parties of the owner in case of sole proprietorship or the assets of the
19 
corporation, association or any other entity, shall be garnished. If such properties
20 
are not enough, movabie and immovable properties may be ievied to fully satisfy
21 
the imposed fines and/or indemnities.
22 
Failure on the part of any corporation, trust or firm, partnership, association
23 
or any other entity to compiy with the provisions of this Act shali be a ground for non-
24 
renewal of business permits.
25 
SEC. 9. Construction in Favor of Labor. - All doubts in the impiementation and
26 
interpretation of the provisions of this Act, inciuding its implementing rules and
27 
regulations, shail be resolved in favor of labor.
28 
SEC. 10. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. - The Secretary of Labor and
29 
Employment shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the
30 
effective implementation of this Act.
31 
SEC. 11. Separabiiity Ciause. - If any provision of this Act is heid
32 
unconstitutional, the remainder thereof not otherwise affected shall remain in full


1 
force and effect.
2 
SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules
3 
and regulations and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with
4 
this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
5 
SEC. 13. Effectivity Clause. -This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
6 
following the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a
7 
newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,