A new bill aimed at boosting the salaries of government workers by up to 46% over four years has been introduced in the Senate. Senate Bill 2611, also known as the Proposed Salary Standardization Law VI, was filed by Jinggoy Estrada, chairman of the Senate labor, employment, and human resources development committee.
The bill outlines a structured increase in basic salaries delivered in four tranches: a 10% raise in the first year, followed by 11%, 12%, and 13% in subsequent years. “This structured increase is essential to help our government workers maintain a decent living standard amid the rising prices of basic commodities and services,” Estrada explained.
The proposed legislation aims to cover all civilian government employees, including public school teachers, nurses, and local government unit personnel. However, it excludes military and uniformed personnel, certain government-owned or -controlled corporations, and contract workers without an employer-employee relationship.
Estrada highlighted the broader impact of the proposed increases, stating, “By making our compensation packages more competitive, we not only retain our current employees but also attract new talent. This is crucial for fostering a vibrant and robust civil service.”
The bill also stipulates that any salary increases for the President, Vice President, and members of Congress would only take effect after the expiration of the terms of the current incumbents.
The push for higher wages comes in the context of recent demonstrations by government employees demanding higher minimum wages and President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos’s directive on Labor Day to review regional minimum wage rates.
