Cayetano backs bill setting wage floor for ‘pakyawan’ workers
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano is backing a measure that seeks to establish clearer wage protections for piece-rate or “pakyawan” workers, many of whom reportedly earn below the legal minimum despite completing full workdays.
Cayetano is among the senators who signed Senate Bill No. 82, or the “Anti-Abuse of Pakyawan Workers Act” authored by Senator Raffy Tulfo, which aims to strengthen fairness and dignity in the labor sector by tightening rules on how output-based wages are computed and enforced.
“As part of honoring God and building communities through good governance, the State must promote human dignity in the labor sector and create a system where all persons are given the chance to thrive and rise,” he said.
“The hope of building a just and humane society will begin once we look beyond simply providing a minimum wage and start aiming for a living wage for all Filipinos,” Cayetano added.
The bill seeks to address gaps that have allowed some workers to receive compensation below the statutory minimum wage despite rendering a full day’s work, by requiring employers to ensure that “pakyawan workers” are paid no less than the prevailing minimum wage prescribed under Republic Act No. 6727.
The measure also mandates a Time and Motion Study (TMS) before any piece-rate system can be implemented or modified.
Employers, workers, or unions must apply with the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board, with the TMS results serving as the basis for official Piece-Rate Orders that standardize output-based pay.
The proposal strengthens enforcement by requiring random inspections at least twice a year and mandating the presence of worker representatives during inspections, addressing concerns over gaps in monitoring actual workplace conditions.
It also introduces graduated administrative penalties for violations such as underpayment, nonpayment of statutory benefits, and non-compliance with approved wage orders, balancing stricter enforcement with due process considerations raised by labor agencies.
Cayetano linked the measure to his broader push for labor reforms, including his proposal to create a labor commission that would streamline the resolution of worker concerns.
“It’s not enough that we raise people’s pay by a small fraction. If we want real change, give people a more reasonable standard of living. Kailangan ngayon ng matapang na solusyon at mabilis na aksyon para sa bawat manggagawang Pilipino,” he said.
Filipino Version
Proteksyon para sa sahod ng pakyawan workers, suportado ni Sen. Alan
Ipinahayag ni Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano ang kanyang suporta sa panukalang naglalayong maglatag ng mas malinaw na proteksyon sa sahod ng mga manggagawang binabayaran batay sa output o “pakyawan workers” na mas mababa ang kinikita sa itinakdang minimum wage.
Kabilang si Cayetano sa mga senador na pumirma sa Senate Bill No. 82 o “Anti-Abuse of Pakyawan Workers Act” na inakda ni Senator Raffy Tulfo.
Layunin ng panukala na palakasin ang pasahod at dignidad sa sektor ng paggawa sa pamamagitan ng mas mahigpit na panuntunan sa pagkalkula at pagpapatupad ng output-based wages.
“As part of honoring God and building communities through good governance, the State must promote human dignity in the labor sector and create a system where all persons are given the chance to thrive and rise,” wika ni Cayetano.
Layong tugunan ng panukala ang mga puwang sa sistema na nagiging dahilan para ang ilang manggagawa ay makatanggap ng sahod na mas mababa sa itinakdang minimum kahit buong araw na nagtrabaho.
“The hope of building a just and humane society will begin once we look beyond simply providing a minimum wage and start aiming for a living wage for all Filipinos,” sabi ni Cayetano.
Sa ilalim ng panukala, obligadong tiyakin ng mga employer na ang pakyawan workers ay makatatanggap ng sahod na hindi bababa sa umiiral na minimum wage alinsunod sa Republic Act No. 6727.
Ipinag-uutos din sa panukala ang pagsasagawa ng Time and Motion Study (TMS) bago ipatupad o baguhin ang anumang piece-rate system.
Kailangang magsumite ng aplikasyon ang mga employer, manggagawa, o unyon sa Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board, kung saan ang resulta ng TMS ang magiging batayan ng opisyal na Piece-Rate Orders na mag-i-standardize ng bayad batay sa output.
Nakaayon din sa Anti-Abuse of Pakyawan Workers Act ang pagsasagawa ng dalawang random inspection kada taon, at inaatasan ang presensya ng kinatawan ng mga manggagawa sa mga inspeksyon upang matugunan ang mga isyu sa monitoring ng aktuwal na kondisyon sa trabaho.
Naglalatag din ang panukala ng graduated administrative penalties laban sa mga lalabag, kabilang ang underpayment, hindi pagbabayad ng benepisyo, at hindi pagsunod sa wage orders, habang isinasaalang-alang ang due process.
Iniuugnay naman ni Cayetano ang panukala sa kanyang mas malawak na adbokasiya para sa labor reforms, kabilang ang mungkahi niyang paglikha ng isang labor commission na magpapabilis sa pagresolba ng mga hinaing ng mga manggagawa.
“It’s not enough that we raise people’s pay by a small fraction. If we want real change, give people a more reasonable standard of living. Kailangan ngayon ng matapang na solusyon at mabilis na aksyon para sa bawat manggagawang Pilipino,” wika ng senador.
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