The Department of Labor and Employment said the temporary restraining order suspending Metro Manila’s ₱85 daily minimum wage increase violates the Labor Code as lawmakers intensified calls for the Supreme Court to intervene and prevent similar court actions from blocking future wage hikes.
DOLE Undersecretary Felipe Egargo Jr. said the department has asked the Office of the Solicitor General to argue before Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 152 that the TRO violates Articles 123 and 126 of the Labor Code, which govern appeals of wage orders and prohibit courts from issuing restraining orders against proceedings before the National Wages and Productivity Commission and regional wage boards.
“Ang categorical position ng DOLE diyan ay sinasabi namin sa OSG bilang abogado ng DOLE… ipakita sa korte na ang ginawa nila ay labag sa batas… para ma-lift ang TRO,” Egargo said during a House hearing.
Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña urged the Supreme Court to conduct a motu proprio inquiry into the Pasig and Navotas petitions to determine whether trial courts exceeded their authority.
“We hope that the Supreme Court motu proprio will conduct a probe on this issue kasi the Supreme Court is the administrator nung lahat ng ating korte sa Pilipinas,” Cendaña said.
Momentum to overturn the TRO has grown across party lines. Twenty-one senators signed Senate Resolution No. 577 urging Pasig RTC Branch 152 to immediately lift the order and uphold Article 126 of the Labor Code. Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri warned that allowing trial courts to suspend wage orders could set a precedent that delays future pay increases nationwide.
“Habang nakabinbin ang dagdag-sahod, wala namang TRO laban sa pagdating ng mga bayarin at laban sa pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin, pamasahe at pagkain,” Zubiri said.
The TRO was issued despite President Bongbong Marcos‘ support for higher wages through regional wage boards. The order has triggered protests by workers outside the Pasig RTC and the DOLE, drawing support from lawmakers across the political spectrum.
