Labor groups ask Supreme Court to void orders blocking NCR wage hike
MANILA, Philippines — Another group of workers has gone to the Supreme Court to challenge lower court orders blocking the new minimum wage in Metro Manila, arguing that the suspension is costing workers an estimated P66 million in wages each day.
KAMANGGAGAWA Party-list and eight labor groups filed a petition Wednesday, August 12, seeking to annul the status quo ante and temporary restraining orders issued by regional trial courts in Pasig and Navotas against the Metro Manila wage order.
The wage order grants an P85 increase in two tranches: P60 effective July 25 and another P25 on Jan. 20, 2027. The court orders have prevented the first tranche from taking effect, keeping the daily minimum wage at P695 instead of P755.
The petitioners said the delay affects around 1.1 million minimum-wage earners, equivalent to about P66 million in foregone wages each day.
"Courts can restore money later, but they cannot retroactively put dinner on yesterday's table. Workers cannot tell hunger to wait while lawyers argue jurisdiction," the petition read.
Courts' jurisdiction questioned
The groups argued that Article 126 of the Labor Code bars courts from issuing injunctions or temporary restraining orders against proceedings before the National Wages and Productivity Commission and Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards.
They maintained that regional wage boards have primary jurisdiction over minimum wage setting.
The petitioners also accused Readycon Trading and Construction Corp., R-II Builders Inc. and the Alliance of Philippine Fishing Federations Inc. of bypassing the administrative appeal process under Article 123 of the Labor Code.
Instead of appealing to the NWPC, the companies filed petitions for declaratory relief before trial courts.
"The RTCs cannot and should not enjoin the implementation of social welfare legislations and quasi-legislative Wage Orders without causing irreparable injury to the working class," the petition read.
The arguments remain subject to the Supreme Court's review.
On Tuesday, August 11, Akbayan Party-list and other labor groups separately filed a letter-complaint with the Supreme Court's Judicial Integrity Office seeking a review of the Pasig RTC's actions in suspending the wage order.
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