Manila, July 17 -- Employers who fail to comply with the PHP50 daily minimum wage hike in Metro Manila starting July 18 face a PHP25,000 fine and imprisonment of up to two years, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada warned Thursday.

Estrada said he is re-filing his bill amending Republic Act 6727 or the Wage Rationalization Act to strengthen the implementation of wage laws.

"The Constitution mandates a living wage. Yet we struggle even to enforce the minimum wage in many areas. This bill seeks to close that gap. By increasing penalties and improving enforcement, we send a strong message: wage theft will not be tolerated," Estrada said in a news release.

The measure seeks to impose stiffer penalties on violators, includ...