By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — A Pasig City court has temporarily stopped the implementation of the ₱85 daily minimum wage increase for private-sector workers in Metro Manila after issuing a 20-day temporary restraining order (TRO), placing the region’s latest wage adjustment on hold while it hears a legal challenge questioning the validity of the wage order.
The Pasig City Regional Trial Court granted the petition filed by two construction companies seeking to suspend NCR Wage Order No. 27, which provides an ₱85 increase in the daily minimum wage. The court’s order restores the status quo while it determines whether the wage board acted within its authority in approving the increase.
The wage adjustment was scheduled to be implemented in two phases, with an initial ₱60 increase taking effect this month and the remaining ₱25 set for implementation next year. The TRO effectively halts enforcement of the wage order until the court issues a further ruling.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said it would respect the court’s directive while pursuing available legal remedies to defend the wage order. Labor officials maintained that the increase was approved after consultations with labor, employer and government representatives through the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board.
Labor organizations swiftly condemned the court’s action, arguing that the suspension deprives minimum wage earners of urgently needed relief amid the continuing rise in the prices of food, transportation, electricity and other basic commodities. They warned that prolonged delays could further erode the purchasing power of workers already struggling with the rising cost of living.
Business groups, however, have argued that the wage order could impose additional financial burdens on employers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, prompting them to seek judicial intervention to determine whether the wage increase complied with existing laws and regulations.
The outcome of the case is expected to have far-reaching implications for wage-setting policies in the National Capital Region and could influence future disputes over minimum wage adjustments as both labor and business groups await the court’s next ruling.
ia/xf
