Senators Push Lifting TRO on Wage

The Philippine Senate moved this week to press for the lifting of a court order that stopped Metro Manila’s P85 daily minimum wage increase, adding legislative pressure to a dispute already being fought by labor groups, employers and the executive branch. Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri said on Wednesday that all 21 senators had signed Senate Resolution No. 577, which urges the immediate removal of the temporary restraining order against the increase. The order had halted implementation of National Capital Region Wage Order No. 27, which was due to take effect on July 25. The wage order covers more than 1 million minimum-wage earners in Metro Manila, according to the Department of Labor and Employment. ### Which wage increase is being blocked? National Capital Region Wage Order No. 27 grants an P85 daily increase for private-sector minimum-wage workers in Metro Manila, the National Wages and Productivity Commission says. The increase was structured in two tranches: P60 upon effectivity and another P25 on January 20, 2027. For non-agriculture workers, that would raise the daily minimum from P695 to P755, then to P780 in January 2027. For agriculture, small retail and service establishments, and manufacturing firms with fewer than 10 workers, the rate would rise from P658 to P718, then to P743. (pna.gov.ph) June 30 was the date Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino announced the increase, calling it the largest wage hike ever approved by the NCR wage board. DOLE later said the implementation date was July 25, following publication of the wage order on July 9. ### What exactly did the Senate do? Senate Resolution No. 577 asks for the immediate lifting of the temporary restraining order and argues that the court action undermines the wage-setting system under the Labor Code, according to Philippine News Agency and other Philippine media reports. (nwpc.dole.gov.ph) Zubiri said the resolution had the backing of senators from both the majority and minority blocs. August 5 was the date the Senate publicly announced the resolution. (newsinfo.inquirer.net) Zubiri said the chamber’s action was meant to support workers affected by the stoppage of the wage order. Philippine News Agency reported that all 21 senators had signed the measure, while some earlier reports described 20 senators backing the push before the full list was completed. ### Why did a trial court stop a regional wage order? (pna.gov.ph) July 30 was the date Judge Marie Joyce Manongsong of Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 152 issued the temporary restraining order, according to Inquirer and other local reports. The TRO suspended implementation of NCR Wage Order No. 27 until August 13 after a petition by Readycon Trading and Construction Corp. and R-II Builders Inc. (pna.gov.ph) Claire Castro, the Palace press officer, said the administration believed the proper remedy for parties objecting to the wage order was an appeal within the wage-board process rather than a direct court case. Senators including Joel Villanueva also questioned the order, citing Article 126 of the Labor Code, which they said bars courts from stopping wage-setting actions. (newsinfo.inquirer.net) ### Who else is trying to get the TRO lifted? Malacañang said on August 4 that the government supported calls by DOLE and labor groups to lift the restraining order. Castro said the Office of the Solicitor General was ready to defend the wage order issued for Metro Manila workers. The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said on August 6 that it would file an urgent motion to intervene and seek dismissal of the petition against the wage hike. (newsinfo.inquirer.net) Separate labor groups have also asked the court to lift the TRO, arguing that workers are being deprived of wage increases already granted under the regional wage order. ### What happens next in the wage dispute? August 13 is the date through which the Pasig court’s temporary restraining order remains in effect, based on reports cited by Inquirer and DZRH. Until then, the legal fight over NCR Wage Order No. 27 remains active in court while the Senate, labor groups and the executive branch press for the order’s removal. (manilastandard.net) January 20, 2027 is the next scheduled wage milestone in the order itself, when the second P25 tranche would take effect if the wage order proceeds. The Office of the Solicitor General, the Pasig court, and labor groups including TUCP are the named participants in the next step of the case. (nwpc.dole.gov.ph) (newsinfo.inquirer.net)