Before implementing a wage hike, Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez said the government should first focus on helping laid off or retrenched employees find jobs.
"Ngayon nga, gusto nating makabalik lahat sa trabaho muna," Lopez told DZHR in an interview.
(Now, we just want everyone to have jobs.)
"Kapag nakaahon na, saka tayo mag-usap ng ganyan."
(Once we recover, then we could talk about that.)
Lopez underscored the importance of finding a balance between increasing wages and helping businesses catch up to increasing costs, especially as smaller business start to recover from the pandemic.
"Alam naman natin din na kapag malaki 'yung pagtaas, kung hindi maibigay 'yan ng maliit na negosyo baka mawala pa yung trabaho mo. Mas lalong hindi sila mag-hire or magbawas pa dahil hindi kakayanin," he said.
(We know that if there is a huge increase, if small businesses cannot give that, it could risk an employee losing his job. They will be more likely to refrain from hiring or even reduce employees because they cannot afford it.)
"So again, balansehin lang 'yan, hindi naman natin sinasabi na hindi itataas, pero siguro 'yun ang kailangang pag-aralan," he added. "Talagang reality 'yung kapalit parati ng pagtataas ng wage ay pagbawas din sa trabaho."
(So again, there is a need to balance. We are not saying that they will not increase, but perhaps that needs further study. Because the reality is in exchange for a higher wage is the reduction of jobs.)
He issued the comments as the Metro Manila wage board junked the petition of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines for a P470 wage hike in Metro Manila.
