TWO Davao-based lawmakers are lobbying for a wage increase for nurses in the private sector to encourage them to stay in the country.
Deputy Speaker and Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte and Dumper PTDA partylist Rep. Claudine Diana Bautista, along with ACT-CIS partylist Rep. Eric Go Yap filed on September 1, 2020 House Bill (HB) No. 7569 or the "Minimum Wage for Nurses in the Private Sector Act of 2020.”
The proposed bill seeks to direct the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) to establish a minimum wage for nurses in private hospitals.
The proponents filed the bill in response to the private nurses' "gallant efforts" who remain to receive lower compensation compared to those working in public sectors.
Citing a report from the Bureau of Local Employment of Dole, they said in the explanatory note that registered nurses receive an average salary of P9,757 per month, which is even less than what a minimum wage earner gets each month.
They noted that the government recently declared that state nurses are entitled to a minimum monthly salary equivalent to Salary Grade 15, which may range from P19,845 to P30,531, depending on the class of the city or municipality.
“Although, these amounts are still a far cry from the salaries received by their foreign counterparts, it is a huge improvement in the salaries of nurses working in the public sector,” the proponents said.
The bill will address the problem of "mass emigration" of nurses and health workers, which are needed in the country.
"This Bill enables the State to step in to protect and improve the financial situation of our nurses who face deadly diseases in privately owned hospitals on a daily basis," the lawmakers said.
They added," They must not be allowed to endure low salaries and wages."
In the proposed measures, NWPC-Dole will be coordinating with the Department of Health, the Philippine Nursing Association, Philippine Board of Nursing, and other stakeholders, in establishing a minimum wage for nurses in private hospitals to make it at par with their government counterparts.
Among to be considered in the setting of a minimum wage for nurses employed in private hospitals are: the cost of living; the wage established for work in the public sector or in other jurisdictions by employers who voluntarily maintain reasonable standards; location of the private hospital; the private hospital’s bed capacity; and fair return of the employer’s capital.
According to HB 7569, prior to the setting of the minimum wage, a report to the Dole Secretary and the NWPC shall first be submitted on the recommended minimum wage for nurses in the private sector. The measure tasks the NWPC to release an order containing the approved minimum wage based on the result of the public hearing within 10 days after the public hearing.
Hospitals who will violate any provision shall pay a fine of not less than P100,000 and not more than P1 million for each violation.
The measure states that any nurse who is a victim of a violation of the proposed Act shall be entitled to back wages and full payment of unpaid benefits, as well as to refund of attorney’s fees that may have been incurred as a consequence of any attempt by a nurse to enforce his right under the proposed Act.
The NWPC and Dole are mandated to promulgate the implementing rules and regulations of the proposed Act, in coordination with the DOH and the Philippine Board of Nursing, the house bill states.
"This measure is simply the least we can do to support our frontline health workers," the proponents said.
The proposed bill is now pending with the Committee on Labor and Employment since September 7, 2020.