MANILA -- At least 10,000 workers are expected to join a Labor Day rally in Metro Manila on Thursday to call on the President to certify as urgent a bill proposing to increase by P200 the daily minimum wage.

Rallies will also be held in other parts of the country on May 1. 

Earlier this month, Malacanang said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was not keen on certifying the measure as urgent, adding his directive was to fast track the review conducted by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board.

As elections and Labor Day draw near, workers call for salary increase, pro-worker reforms

But labor groups hope the May 1 rally will help change the President’s mind, noting that the wage issue could have been among the factors for the recent drop in the President’s approval rating.

“Ito ‘yung tanging pamamaraan para sa Pangulo, na mabawi niya ‘yung nawalang tiwala sa kanya ng taumbayan: sa pag-certify as urgent nitong P200 wage hike… Hangga’t walang certification as urgent, parang walang ginagawa dito sa usapin ng sweldo, at patuloy lamang bababa pa ‘yung approval at trust ratings lalu sa usapin ng pagpapataas ng sweldo,” Carlos Miguel Onate of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said.

 “We want our movement to change the President’s mind. Hindi sapat ang increase kada rehiyon… Hindi pwedeng kung ‘yan ang desisyon mo noong nakaraang April 3, hindi mo babaguhin. Ito sa tingin namin ang kailangang aksyunan,” Sentro ng Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa’s Nice Coronacion added.

The TUCP is also calling for a dialogue between the President and labor groups.

"Mr. President, if you have time, please talk to us… The solution there is wage increase, now, P200. Show support, sir. Your people need it. The Filipino workers need it,” TUCP party-list Rep. and House Deputy Speaker Raymond Democrito Mendoza said.

 Marcos says P200 across-the-board wage hike needs further study

The P200 daily minimum wage hike bill was approved on second reading by the House of Representatives last February. The lower chamber of the 19th Congress has the period of June 2 to June 13 to approve the measure on third and final reading. 

If there are disagreeing provisions between the House and the Senate versions, the bill will have to go through the bicameral conference committee and its report will have to be approved by both chambers, before submission to the Office of the President for his decision.