LABOR groups on Monday urged the Supreme Court to act on their petition challenging lower-court actions that have stalled Metro Manila’s P85 minimum wage increase, saying workers have been waiting nearly two months for the first tranche of the pay hike.
The call came from the Nagkaisa labor coalition, which held a lightning rally outside the Supreme Court on Sunday with the Federation of Free Workers (FFW), Partido Manggagawa and August Twenty-One Movement (ATOM).
The groups are urging the high court to set aside the orders issued in separate cases before the Pasig and Navotas regional trial courts involving Wage Order NCR-27.
In Pasig, RTC Branch 154 issued a status quo ante order, and RTC Branch 152 a temporary restraining order on July 30 blocking implementation of the wage order until Aug. 13.
After the TRO expired, Branch 152 issued a writ of preliminary injunction, continuing the restraint on implementation subject to a P10-billion bond.
In Navotas, RTC Branch 287 ordered a clarificatory hearing on the request of the Alliance of Philippine Fishing Federations Inc. for a status quo ante order.
The Supreme Court has not characterized the Navotas court’s action as an injunction against the wage hike.
On Aug. 26, the high court directed Readycon Trading and Construction Corp., R-II Builders Inc. and the Alliance of Philippine Fishing Federations Inc. to comment within 10 days on the labor groups’ petition for certiorari and prohibition.
The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in the NCR and the National Wages and Productivity Commission were likewise ordered to comment.
Under Wage Order NCR-27, the P85 hike was to be implemented in two tranches: P60 effective last July 25 and P25 on Jan. 20, 2027.
Nagkaisa said the pay hike has been “locked up” by court proceedings while prices continue to rise.
“The workers are the owners of the wages being disputed, yet we are the ones waiting outside the discussion,” the coalition said.
It urged the Supreme Court to act on the petition and provide clearer guidance on the legal status of the wage order.
The coalition also clarified that the succeeding Wage Order NCR-28, which takes effect on Sept. 26, is separate from and does not amend NCR-27.
