Twenty-one senators united in calling for the immediate lifting of a Pasig court order that halted the ₱85 daily minimum wage increase for more than 1.1 million Metro Manila workers.
Through Senate Resolution No. 577, authored by Senate Majority Leader Senator Migz Zubiri, the Senate called on Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 152 to allow Wage Order No. NCR-27 to take effect despite the temporary freeze, which has sparked protests outside the Pasig Regional Trial Court and the Department of Labor and Employment. Zubiri secured the signatures of majority senators, while Sen. robin padilla gathered support from the minority.
“Walang partido, walang kulay dapat ang pagsusulong natin ng kapakanan ng manggagawa,” Zubiri said.
The court issued the temporary restraining order on July 30, and it will remain in effect until Aug. 13. The order was issued just days after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in his fifth State of the Nation Address, reaffirmed his administration’s push for higher wages through regional wage boards nationwide.
The first ₱60 tranche took effect on July 25, bringing the daily minimum wage to ₱755 for non-agriculture workers and ₱718 for agriculture workers and employees of covered small retail, service and manufacturing establishments. Another ₱25 scheduled for January 20, 2027, would raise the respective rates to ₱780 and ₱743.
The resolution cited Article 126 of the Labor Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 6727. Senators argued that the provision bars courts and other bodies from issuing injunctions or restraining orders against proceedings before the National Wages and Productivity Commission or regional wage boards.
“Let the Labor Code prevail and allow the PHP85 increase to reach the workers who have already waited long enough,” Zubiri said.
Kamanggagawa Party-list Rep. Eli San Fernando said workers are losing an estimated ₱60 million for every day the wage increase remains suspended.
Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino welcomed the resolution. He said the DOLE was working with the Office of the Solicitor General to challenge the court order.
