MANILA, Philippines — Kamanggagawa Partylist Rep. Eli San Fernando on Thursday night blasted the Marcos administration and Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino over the suspension of the P85 daily minimum wage increase in Metro Manila, accusing the government of abandoning workers after a Pasig court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO).
In a Facebook live, San Fernando said Tolentino should have defended the wage order instead of immediately saying the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) would respect the court’s ruling, arguing that appeals on wage orders should first be brought before the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC).
“You are the Secretary of Labor. You should be protecting workers. Instead, you immediately accepted the court’s decision even though the legal process laid down under the law was not followed,” San Fernando said.
He also criticized the Marcos administration, saying the suspension of the wage increase showed that the government was siding with business groups instead of minimum wage earners who fought for the increase.
“Only under this administration has the judiciary interfered in the wage-setting process. The government has shown it is quick to accommodate employers, but not to stand up for workers,” San Fernando said.
San Fernando urged workers to oppose the suspension of the wage hike, warning that if the TRO remains unchallenged, it could also undermine future wage increase petitions in other regions.
