Paolo Romero
Philippine Star

The Senate and the House of Representatives are likely to fast-track the approval of another round of salary increases for government workers through a resolution to be proposed by Malacañang next month, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. said yesterday.

But while the one million-plus state workers are due for the third round of increases under the Salary Standardization Law, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said it would be too early for employees in the private sector to seek the same despite the continued rise in consumer prices.

“It is definitely reasonable to say that the present condition does not warrant an increase (for private sector),” Ermita said.

He pointed out the minimum wage was raised just last month by the regional wage boards and there is a one-year ban before another round of increases for private sector workers can be implemented.

The last wage hike granted was still the one-year ban since the minimum wage was increased in August but regional wage boards allowed the increases due to “supervening conditions.”

Andaya said a resolution has been drafted for another round of salary increases for government employees under the Salary Standardization Law 3 (SSL3) totaling P20 billion.

“We are ready with our resolution and the funding would be incorporated in the 2009 budget. This will cover all employees although the increases would be different per salary level,” he said.

He said Senate President Manuel Villar and Speaker Prospero Nograles expressed willingness to fast track the resolution during initial consultations with them.

The resolution, he said, would be filed in Congress after President Arroyo delivers her State of the Nation Address on July 28.

Andaya could not say exactly how much the salary increases would be but “it could be better” than what the government workers received the last time.

The second SSL amounted to over P9 billion.