Metro Manila, Philippines – A Pasig City court has ordered the continued suspension of the ₱85 minimum wage increase in Metro Manila through a preliminary injunction pending the petition filed by employer groups.
The ruling by Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 152 reinforced the temporary restraining order issued on July 30 against NCR Wage Order 27. The stay order lapsed on Thursday, Aug. 13. The court held a hearing on the employers’ request for a preliminary injunction on Aug. 3.
The preliminary injunction suspended the wage hike pending resolution of the underlying issue. It is not a final ruling that invalidates the wage order. The court said it is a provisional remedy intended to preserve the rights of the parties and prevent potentially irreparable harm pending resolution of the case.
The court said it found grounds to suspend the wage order, considering the potential impact of the wage increase on businesses, including higher operating costs and possible effects on employment.
The court also recognized the impact of the suspension on workers, particularly amid rising prices, but said it had to balance the interests of workers and employers while the case is pending.
The court order requires a ₱10-billion injunction bond.The bond acts as a financial safety net to cover any financial loss, costs, or injuries the defendant suffers because their actions were unfairly stopped.
Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino vowed to challenge the ruling, saying the court decision would deprive more than a million workers in Metro Manila and their families of more income.
“Ang desisyon ng Pasig RTC Branch 152 ay hindi lamang pumipigil sa dagdag-sahod — inaalis nito ang pagkain sa hapag ng mahigit isang milyong manggagawa sa Metro Manila at ng kanilang mga pamilya,” he said.
[Translation: The decision of Pasig RTC Branch 152 does not merely stop the wage increase — it takes food off the tables of more than a million workers in Metro Manila and their families.]
Tolentino said the court order came at a time when workers need every peso to cope with their daily expenses.
“Sa panahong mahalaga ang bawat piso, ipinagkakait ng desisyong ito sa ating mga manggagawa ang kaginhawaan kanilang pinaghirapan at kailangang-kailangan,” he said.
[Translation: At a time when every peso matters, this decision denies our workers the relief they have worked for and urgently need.]
The labor chief said the Department of Labor and Employment would use all available legal remedies to challenge the injunction.
“Gagamitin namin ang lahat ng legal na paraan upang labanan at maipawalang-bisa ang desisyong ito, at ipagtanggol ang karapatan at kapakanan ng ating mga manggagawa,” Tolentino said.
[Translation: We will use all legal means to challenge and overturn this decision and defend the rights and welfare of our workers.]
He said workers should not be left to bear the consequences of the legal dispute.
The ₱85 increase was approved by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-National Capital Region and was scheduled to be implemented in two tranches.
The court case was filed by Readycon Trading and Construction Corp. and R-II Builders Inc. against the NCR Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board and the National Wages and Productivity Commission.
The employers challenged the wage order, prompting the court to examine whether the wage-setting process properly considered factors required under the Labor Code, including the cost of living, workers’ needs, prevailing wage levels and employers’ capacity to pay.
