The Federation of Free Workers expressed concerns over President Ferdinand ”Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s statement about reviewing the proposed hike in minimum wage for workers.

Labor leader and lawer Sonny Matula emphasized that the bill granting a P200 increase on the daily minimum wage has already undergone scrutiny by lawmakers.

“We are concerned about it being subjected to a review and the Palace seeking the opinion of the wage boards. This bill has gone through debates in the House and Senate.,” Matula said.

He added that the wage board is not the Court of Appeals which should be consulted over a bill already passed by Congress.

Earlier, Malacanang said that Marcos will look into the economic implications of the proposed increase.

Matula, however, urged Marcos to support the bill.

“Dapat ay aprobahan na [ang wage hike] sapagkat matagal na itong kinakailangan,” he said.

“Palagay ko ay isang insulto para sa mga representante sa House at sa ating mga Senador na konsultahin pa yung ating mga regional wage boards,” added Matula.

The House version of the wage hike measure is P200 per day, a higher amount compared to the Senate version, which is just pegged at P100. The House and the Senate will have to reconcile their differing versions and ratify the reconciled version before the 19th Congress ends on June 13 for the bill to be ready for the President’s signature.

Senator Joel Villanueva expressed concern regarding the House of Representatives’ approval of the bill and said that it might only get vetoed if adopted by the Senate.

So even if the bill has different versions, this should not be a hurdle, and Congress should immediately decide on the final amount and send it to the President for signature. They should not make the workers wait even longer because they have been waiting for this for 36 years.