Senate ratifies service charge bill

by Neil Arwin Mercado, Philippine Daily Inquirer, May 28, 2019

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate ratified on Tuesday the bill that would allow hotel, restaurant and other workers to receive 100 percent of the service charges collected from customers.

Through a unanimous vote, the upper chamber voted to ratify the bill.

Senate committee on labor chairperson Sen. Joel Villanueva said the bill would benefit 443,00 hotel and restaurant workers if it would be enacted into law.

“As customers, it is clear to us that when we pay service charge, our intention is towards those who served us. We pay service charge to commend excellent service or as an outright good will to the service crew,” Villanueva said during the ratification of the bill.

“This measure will create more employment-friendly workplaces not only for the benefit of our workers, but also our employers,” he added.

The bicameral conference committee earlier adopted Senate Bill 1299, which requires employers to give 100 percent service charges collected to workers.

The House’s version of the bill, meanwhile, only requires employers to give 90 percent to the workers.

“After more than 40 years yung kasaysayan natin from the presidential decree in 74, 75, ngayon yung service charge ay 100 percent na na mapupunta sa ating mga workers,” Villanueva earlier told reporters at the Senate.

Once ratified by both the Senate and the House of Representatives, the bill will be sent to Malacanang for the President’s signature. /gsg