By RICHIELYN CANLAS
The Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 152 on Thursday, Aug. 13, issued a preliminary injunction placing the ₱85 daily minimum wage hike for workers in the National Capital Region on hold.
The order, signed by Presiding Judge Marie Joyce Manongsong, granted the petitioners’ request against Wage Order No. 27, halting its implementation pending the court’s ruling on the case. The petition was filed by Readycon Trading and Construction Corp. and R-II Builders, Inc.
“Accordingly, the court grants petitioners’ prayer for a writ of preliminary injunction. Respondents are enjoined from implementing Wage Order No. 27 pending this court’s determination of the merits of the petition for declaratory relief,” the order read.
The court said “it is to the best interest of all stakeholders that the assailed wage order be temporarily put on pause,” citing possible job losses that could result from the increase.
“To the court’s mind, these work terminations should not be easily dismissed as trivial. Losing one’s employment is graver and irreversible than the temporary inability to receive additional wages,” the order stated.
“This, along with the other grim consequences discussed above, are precisely the reasons why this court deems that momentarily enjoining the implementation of the assailed wage order is not only legal but also just,” it added.
The court stressed that in issuing the order, it was not recklessly transgressing Article 126 of the Labor Code, noting that it had fully recognized the interconnected interests of employers and employees in wage matters.
It also said the injunction was meant to ensure that the rights of both management and labor are considered and their livelihoods sustained.
In addition, the court acknowledged the possible burdens the injunctive order could cause to millions of workers across the region and deemed a ₱10 billion bond sufficient as an injunction bond.
A temporary restraining order (TRO) was issued in late July against the implementation of the ₱85 daily minimum wage increase in Metro Manila, which senators criticized.
The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board–National Capital Region (RTWPB-NCR) earlier issued Wage Order No. 27, which provides an additional ₱85 in the daily minimum wage to be implemented in two phases — the ₱60 increase took effect on July 25, while the remaining ₱25 increase will take effect starting January 2027.
