MAP joins opposition to P200 legislated wage hike
The Management Association of the Philippines opposes the plan to raise the country’s minimum wage by P200 a day.
MANILA, Philippines – The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), which counts top executives of some of the country’s largest companies among its members, on Monday expressed its opposition to the P200 legislated wage hike, marking the latest resistance from the private sector amid concerns over its potential impact on business costs and inflation.
While the influential group said it supports initiatives to improve the lives of minimum-wage workers, it said that it believes the proposed increase warrants further review before implementation.
“However, we do not support the P200 daily wage increase which was approved recently by the House of Representatives,” it said in a statement.
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“Since setting a minimum wage is a very complex process where many factors have to be taken into account, we call on the Bicameral Conference Committee of the House and the Senate to conduct further consultations with all affected sectors,” it added.
These sectors, it said, should include employers, employees, consumers, and involved agencies, among others, before reaching a decision.
The business group also emphasized that the country’s primary challenge is not low wages but the high cost of living, meaning that even with wage increases, many will still struggle to cover essential expenses such as food, housing, transportation, and utilities.
Aside from the MAP, other business groups which have shared opposition to the measure include the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport), Philippine Retailers Association, and the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII).
On June 3, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading a bill proposing a P200 increase in the daily minimum wage.
