Senate Blocks Historic P200 Wage Hike in Philippines as Congress Adjourns

MANILA, Philippines — The recent adjournment of the 19th Congress has dashed hopes for a legislated wage increase in the Philippines, as both the House of Representatives and the Senate failed to reconcile differing versions of proposed wage hike bills. This development follows the unsuccessful attempts to pass House Bill (HB) No. 11376, which aimed for a P200 increase, and Senate Bill (SB) No. 2534, which proposed a P100 increase, before the Congress concluded its session on June 11, 2025.

The proposed wage hike, which would have marked the first legislated increase in 36 years, comes in response to rising living costs that have placed significant financial strain on Filipino workers. According to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the inflation rate has consistently outpaced wage growth, creating a widening gap between incomes and basic living expenses (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2025).

House spokesperson Princess Abante strongly criticized the Senate, claiming they “killed the P200 wage hike bill” by refusing to engage in a bicameral conference committee. “Let’s not sugarcoat it. The reason is simple: The Senate refuses to talk to us. They want us to simply accept their version,” Abante stated (Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 13, 2025).

Senator Joel Villanueva, who sponsored SB 2534, had proposed for the House to adopt the Senate's version to expedite the process, suggesting that it could be signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. before the end of the Congress. However, Rizal Representative Fidel Nograles, chair of the House Committee on Labor and Employment, rejected this notion, emphasizing the importance of a deliberative process rather than a hasty acceptance of the Senate's version (Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 13, 2025).

Labor groups have expressed outrage over the failure to pass the wage hike bills, viewing it as a demonstration of the government’s disregard for the plight of workers. Jerome Adonis, secretary general of Kilusang Mayo Uno, stated, “This only proves that the current government and the current ruling system would not serve the people. This is unacceptable. This is unforgivable” (Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 13, 2025).

Sonny Matula, president of the Federation of Free Workers, echoed these sentiments, recalling pre-election promises from politicians to support wage increases. “We were used to get votes, we were abandoned after they got what they wanted,” Matula lamented, highlighting a pattern of political neglect towards labor issues (Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 13, 2025).

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines characterized the failure as a missed opportunity for historical wage legislation, calling it a critical chance to uplift the lives of millions of Filipino workers. As the country transitions into the 20th Congress, the prospects of wage legislation remain uncertain, with widespread calls for renewed efforts to address the economic challenges faced by the workforce (Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 13, 2025).

The implications of this legislative failure extend beyond immediate economic relief for workers; it reflects broader issues of political accountability and the responsiveness of governance to the needs of its citizens. Moving forward, labor organizations and advocates may intensify their campaigns to ensure that wage reform becomes a priority in upcoming legislative sessions.