Zubiri: P150 increase in minimum wage will attract skilled workers to stay

“WALA na tayong workers. Most of our skilled workers (went) abroad. Most of our best welders and electricians are all in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East.”

Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri made this assertion during the budget briefing of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) on Wednesday, as he renewed his call for a P150 increase in the minimum wage that he said can help retain skilled workers in the country.

Zubiri was responding to a statement made by Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, indicating that a shortage of skilled workers in the country compels the government to hire Chinese workers.

“And why, your Honors, (is there a shortage)? Because to be honest, they don’t feel that they can survive with the salaries that we have here in the Philippines,” the Senate President said.

“I know you came out already publicly stating that you guys are against legislative wage hikes, but I’ll be honest with you, Secretary, kawawang-kawawa po ang ating mga kababayan,” he added.

The wage board recently approved an increase of P40 in the minimum wage of workers in Metro Manila, bringing the total to P610 a day. For the rest of the country, the minimum wage rates stayed the same.

“Ang masama pa, ‘yung P40 wage hike ay sa Metro Manila lang. Sa amin sa Mindanao, it has not moved. Do you know what the daily wage earner in her (Secretary Pangandaman) province earns? P340. What can you buy with P340 for a family of five?,” asked Zubiri.