🕓 Last Updated: June 5, 2025, 12:34 pm (PH time)
After 36 years, the House of Representatives (HOR) approves House Bill (HB) 11376, giving a ₱200 wage increase for the private sector employees. Discover how this affects Filipino workers and what it portends for labor reform.
The ₱200 wage hike is a historic move that captured the attention of labor groups, economists, and working Filipinos nationwide. The House, on June 4, 2025, approved HB No. 11376, granting a ₱200 across-the-board wage hike for all workers in the private sector. The bill, therefore, marks the first legislated wage hike enacted by Congress in 36 years—a significant congressional breakthrough in the country’s long struggle for equitable labor reform.
The passage of HB 11376 for the third and final reading is more than just a legislative milestone. It also depicts shifting economic priorities and the re-emergence of the HOR as a potent force for pro-labor policymaking. House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez is at the heart of this political and legislative victory. His 19th Congress leadership has been instrumental in ushering the bill through debates, negotiations, and the recent eventual approval.
Speaker Martin Romualdez: A Game-Changer for Labor Reform
Speaker Martin Romualdez played a pivotal role in mobilizing support for HB 11376, navigating the complex political landscape of conflicting corporate interests and rising public pressure. Under his supermajority leadership, the House prioritized the bill as part of its legislative agenda, even amid apprehension from some quarters of the private sector.
His ability to unify legislators from across political lines—ranging from progressive party lists to administration allies—was a defining moment that led to the bill’s unprecedented approval. In contrast to previous failed attempts to legislate wage hikes, Romualdez’s leadership created a political environment where such a bill could not just survive but thrive.
Meanwhile, during the House discussion, lawmakers underscored the importance of HB 11376, noting that Filipino workers have already borne the brunt of inflation and economic hardships long enough. They also stressed that the government must act firmly in protecting workers’ dignity and helping them achieve a decent standard of living.
What HB 11376 Provides for the Working Class
HB 11376, also known as the “Wage Hike for Minimum Wage Workers Act,” was principally authored by several lawmakers earnestly committed to improving the livelihoods of Filipino workers. The key authors include the following:
- Rep. Ramon Jolo Revilla, III of the 1st District of Cavite
- Rep. Arlene Brosas of Gabriela Party List
- Rep. France Castro of ACT Teachers Party List
- Rep. Raoul Danniel Manuel of Kabataan Party List
- Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza of TUCP Party List
- Rep. Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” Villanueva of Cibac Party List
- Rep. Ron Salo of Kabayan Party List
- Rep. Ramon Guico, Jr., of the 5th District of Pangasinan
- Rep. Joseph “Jojo” Lara of the 3rd District of Cagayan
- Rep. Robert Raymund Estrella of Abono Party List
- Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez of Tingog Party List
- Rep. Jude Acidre of Tingog Party List
- Rep. Josefina Tallado of the 1st District of Camarines Norte
- Rep. Jose Maria Zubiri, Jr. of the 3rd District of Bukidnon
- Rep. Wilter Palma of the 1st District of Zamboanga Sibugay
- Rep. Juan Fidel Felipe Nograles of the 4th District of Rizal
The bill mandates a mandatory P200 increase to the daily minimum wage of private-sector employees nationwide. This wage increase will be in addition to the existing minimum wage set by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs). Unlike region-specific wage orders that often further exacerbate inequality, HB 11376 applies uniformly. Hence, no working Filipino is left behind, regardless of geographic location.
Meanwhile, the key provisions of HB 11376 include the following:
✅ Uniform Implementation
The P200 wage increase is uniformly implemented across the country to all private sector employees, regardless of employment status, including those in contractual and subcontractual arrangements, agricultural or non-agricultural, industry, or region.
✅ Non-Diminution Clause
The wage increase cannot be utilized by employers to diminish or cancel current or existing benefits.
✅ Tax Exemption for SMEs
The bill allows for tax incentives and a phased implementation window to mitigate the effect on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
✅ Monitoring Mechanism
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has the responsibility of enforcing and monitoring compliance and the imposition of sanctions on violators.
Historical Perspective: Why This Matters
The last wage hike in the country was legislated in 1989, through the Republic Act No. 6727, which devolved wage-setting powers to regional wage boards. Hence, wage increases since then have been incremental and frequently perceived or criticized, so to speak, as inadequate amid rising inflation, urban poverty, and job insecurity
This decades-long stalemate is finally halted by the legislation of HB 11376, recognizing the fact that regional wage orders have largely failed to keep pace with the cost of living, Filipino workers have long been suffering. For millions of Filipino workers, this wage increase provides both short-term relief and long-term hope as inflation continues to undercut purchasing power.
Implications for the Future Labor Landscape
Meanwhile, according to labor economists, the passage of HB 11376 may trigger a long-overdue review of the country’s wage policy framework. It could set the stage for Congress to become more proactive in shaping all-embracing labor reforms, ranging from job security legislation to bolstering collective bargaining rights.
Moreover, the bill’s uniform application reflects a policy change toward national labor standards, which in the process will challenge the decentralized and inconsistent wage-setting approach of the last three decades.
If this historic law is passed by the Senate, it will not only improve the living conditions of workers but also change how the government views labor. Domestic or local labor has to be valued, appreciated, and given attention in a nation that has long romanticized its overseas workers.
As this historic bill heads to the Senate, its passage would not only raise workers’ standard of living but also redefine how the country values labor. For a nation that has long romanticized its overseas workers, it’s high time local labor is given attention, rewarded, and respected. ▲▼
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Reference:
- Department of Labor and Employment. (2024). Philippine Labor Force Trends. Retrieved from https://www.dole.gov.ph
- House of Representatives. (2025). House Bill No. 11376 Full Text. Retrieved from https://congress.gov.ph
- Philippine Statistics Authority. (2024). Annual Inflation Report. Retrieved from https://psa.gov.ph
- Romualdez, F. M. (2025). Statement on Wage Hike Bill Passage. House of Representatives Media Bureau.
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Regel Javines is the founder/editor-publisher of The Philippine Pundit. Born in Leyte and raised by struggle, he writes truth from the margins. His work explores the intersections of politics, spirituality, and life’s deeper questions. Blogging since 2011, Regel has contributed incisive political analysis to global citizen journalism platforms, giving voice to stories often left unheard. Currently, he works as a consultant for the Congressional Assistance, Response, and Education (CARE) Program of the House of Representatives of the Philippines.