Subsidies eyed for minimum wage earners

The House committee on labor and employment is eyeing government subsidies for minimum wage earners, if only to offset inflation and its negative impact on their living conditions.

- DELON PORCALLA

Panel chairman Rep. Fidel Nograles (Rizal, fourth district), however, wants to be sure if the government can afford to provide wage subsidies in light of pending bills in Congress - such as the one in the House, which seeks to provide a wage hike ranging from P150 to P750.

"A number of sectors have raised the possibility of the government subsidizing the proposed wage increase during the hearing. I think this is a sound idea, but we also have to ask our economic managers whether the government can also cover the cost of such subsidies," Nograles said.