Lawmaker calls for uniform national minimum wage to bridge regional pay gaps in the Philippines

A Philippine lawmaker has renewed calls for a nationwide minimum wage, arguing that regional pay disparities continue to disadvantage workers outside the country’s economic centers.

Timothy Joseph Cayton, the representative of Nueva Vizcaya, is urging Congress to fast-track the passage of House Bill No. 8081, also known as the proposed National Minimum Wage Act. The measure seeks to establish a single, uniform wage floor for all Filipino workers, replacing the current system of region-based wage setting.

Cayton said the proposal should be treated with urgency, particularly as economic pressures intensify amid global uncertainties, including the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. According to him, workers performing similar roles should not be paid differently based solely on geographic location.

At present, wage disparities remain stark across regions. In Nueva Vizcaya, the daily minimum wage stands at around P500, compared to as much as P695 in Metro Manila, a gap the lawmaker described as both inequitable and unsustainable.

House Bill No. 8081 proposes anchoring the initial national minimum wage to the highest prevailing regional rate, effectively using Metro Manila’s wage level as the baseline for a nationwide standard. The move, Cayton said, would help narrow income gaps and promote more inclusive economic growth.

“Workers performing the same tasks should receive the same pay, regardless of where they live,” Cayton said, stressing that equal compensation is a matter of fairness and dignity. He added that the measure would not only uplift workers but also stimulate local economies by increasing purchasing power and supporting small businesses across provinces.

The bill, however, remains pending in the House of Representatives of the Philippines, with Cayton calling on fellow lawmakers and stakeholders to prioritize its passage.

Framing the proposal as a critical labor reform, the lawmaker said a unified wage system would send a strong signal that economic development should extend beyond major urban centers. “Growth must be shared by every Filipino worker, wherever they are,” he said.