ALL 8 CAVITE LAWMAKERS BACK BILL TO SCRAP PROVINCIAL WAGE RATES
TRECE MARTIRES, Cavite — All eight congressional representatives of Cavite province have thrown their unified support behind a proposed National Minimum Wage Act that would abolish the country’s existing regional and provincial wage rate system.
The Cavite delegation — spanning all eight legislative districts — issued a joint statement backing the measure, which seeks to establish a single national minimum wage floor and end wage disparities based on geographic location.
The bill has gained traction amid rising consumer prices, with labor advocates arguing that workers in the provinces are effectively penalized by lower wage ceilings despite facing the same cost-of-living pressures as their counterparts in urban centers.
“Equal pay for equal work, wherever in the country,” has become a rallying cry among provincial labor groups pushing for the reform.
The Cavite bloc’s unanimous endorsement signals growing legislative momentum for the proposal. The province, which straddles the boundaries of Metro Manila and the broader Calabarzon region, is home to a significant industrial and manufacturing workforce whose wage rates fall below those set for the National Capital Region.
Under the current framework, regional tripartite wage boards set minimum wages independently, resulting in wide disparities across provinces and regions. Proponents of the national wage bill say the system is outdated and structurally inequitable.
The measure is pending before the House of Representatives. No committee hearing date has been announced.
Discover more from Cavite News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
