While the government has yet to decide on petitions to raise the minimum wage hike, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said the decision on excise tax and the country’s economic status must be taken into consideration.
In the Laging Handa briefing on Monday (March 14), he said large companies can raise their minimum wage, but small to medium enterprises that have just resumed operations might not be able keep up with the proposal.
“Ang importante kasi ngayon ay iyong job employment. At wala pang isang buwan bukas ang economy natin na medyo gumaganda iyong mga benta ng mga maliliit na negosyante,” he said.
“Dito naman sa mga negosyante galing sa tourism sector, kababangon lang iyan eh. Halos two years na walang negosyo so bumabangon pa lang sila, so we have to give them time,” he added.
The Go Negosyo founder noted that there is need for further discussions on the matter.
“The challenging situation is that wala pa tayong isang buwan. We just opened the economy, so people are now really trying to come back,” he said.
“Pero ngayon itong conflict nangyayari, it’s pushing inflation. So, what’s important is also job generation ‘no. So, kung wala namang kita and expansion iyong mga maliit na negosyante, mahihirapan sila,” he added.
As for the expected increase in the prices of goods and services amid the crisis in eastern Europe, the official said it might just be “temporary”, pending the resolution of the Russo-Ukrainian crisis. (PTV News)/AG-rir
Read more: ECOP: Minimum wage hike to cover only 16% of workers; goods prices may rise