Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will take into consideration the economic implications of the proposed PHP200 across-the-board daily salary increase for minimum wage workers, Malaca±ang said Thursday. While Marcos wants to improve workers' conditions, he also has to weigh 'all aspects and concerns of all stakeholders,' Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro told reporters. Castro said Marcos would also consult the wage boards about the proposal for a minimum wage hike.

According to Philippines News Agency, the House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on third and final reading a measure seeking a PHP200 daily pay increase for minimum wage workers in the private sector. Castro said the proposal will be studied since a similar measure has yet to be passed by the Senate. 'Pag-aaralan pa po ito at nandiyan pa po ang Senado. Hindi pa po natatapos sa Senado ang usapin na iyan (This is still being studied and the Senate is still there. That issue has not yet been finalized in the Senate),' she said.

'At katulad po nang sinabi ni Pangulo, titignan po ang anumang economic implications patungkol po dito pero nais po ng Pangulong maibigay ang nararapat at mas makakabuti sa manggagawang Pilipino (And as the President said, we will look at any economic implications regarding this but the President wants to provide what is right and better for Filipino workers),' Castro added. During the 123rd Labor Day celebration on May 1, Marcos said the proposed wage increase in the private sector must be carefully studied, considering its potential impact on the Philippine economy, business, and the labor sector.

Marcos, nevertheless, noted that 16 regions in the Philippines have already implemented wage hikes since June 2024.