Sign in Subscribe
Workers

Private Sector Workers Have Right to Negotiate Higher Pay with Employers

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Private sector workers in the Philippines can negotiate for higher pay with their employers beyond waiting for government-mandated wage increases, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma emphasized that employees have the right to collective bargaining, a right guaranteed under the Labor Code. This means both parties must promptly and in good faith negotiate an agreement on wages, hours of work, and other terms and conditions of employment. Workers should not limit themselves to seeking higher minimum wages, but rather invest in skills development to strengthen their case for higher pay.

Key Takeaways:

  • Private sector workers in the Philippines have the right to negotiate for higher pay with their employers.
  • Collective bargaining is a right guaranteed under the Labor Code, requiring both parties to promptly and in good faith negotiate an agreement on wages, hours of work, and other terms and conditions of employment.
  • Workers should not only seek higher minimum wages but also invest in skills development to strengthen their case for higher pay.
  • The Labor Code views minimum wages as a social protection floor to prevent underpayment.
  • Strengthening one's skills through upskilling and retooling can lead to better jobs, higher salaries, and better benefits.
  • The Department of Labor and Employment can only provide technical inputs to lawmakers regarding policies, and emphasizes the need to balance worker welfare with job preservation.
  • The labor department opposes a uniform national minimum wage, citing that only Congress can pass such a measure.

Statistics:

  • The daily minimum wage in Metro Manila stands at P695, the highest in the country.
  • The lowest daily minimum wage in the country is in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) at P411.
  • As of June 30, several legislators have filed bills seeking an across-the-board salary increase.

Sources:

  • "Labor Secretary says workers have right to seek higher pay beyond min wage" by [Source Unknown]
  • "DOLE: Minimum wage as social protection floor to prevent underpayment" by [Source Unknown]

Read more