LABOR Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma on Saturday said the proposed P100 minimum wage hike in the private sector might create difficulties for some businesses.

Laguesma, who was interviewed by radio station DZBB, admitted that the P100 proposal can result in an additional 15 to 25 percent increase in each employee's salary, excluding wage related benefits, citing data from the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC).

“Medyo may kabigatan po. Dahil out of more or less one million na registered existing businesses sa atin, mahigit 900,000 nasa kategorya ng micro, small, and medium enterprises,” Leguesma said.

The Labor Secretary said that it would be “contentious” to say that businesses will not be able to shoulder the P100 increase.

For DOLE, Laguesma said that the there was a need for the department to look at how to preserve employment.

They also need to continue to create additional jobs to sustain the employment level.

“Kasi po kapag nakikita namin na ang mga hanapbuhay ay higit kaysa doon sa mga naghahanap ng hanapbuhay, puwedeng maglaro ‘yung tinatawag natin na market forces,” the DOLE Secretary said.

“Kung gusto mong makakita ng manggagawa, sumabay ka sa mga benepisyo na hinahanap at gustong makita ng mga manggagawa na ipagkakaloob sa kanila. ‘Yon po ang mga konsiderasyon na dapat isinasaalang-alang,” Laguesma added.