Court suspends P85 wage hike in Metro Manila, DOLE confirms
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
The implementation of the first tranche of the P85 daily wage increase for minimum wage earners in Metro Manila were deferred following the issuance of a court order based on a legal challenge by at least two companies, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) confirmed on Thursday, July 27.
The P60 wage hike was supposed to be implemented on July 25 but DOLE Secretary Francis Tolentino said there was a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) issued by a local court in Metro Manila that put the wage hike on hold.
The second tranche for the remaining P25 is set in January next year.
“Malungkot ako para sa mga manggagawa pero susnod tayo sa utos ng husgado (I’m sad for the workers but we will follow the court’s order,” said Tolentino in a statement.
“Kung ano man ang naging basehan ng husgado sa paglalabas ng TRO, hayaan na po natin na sila ang magpaliwanag (Whatever the basis of the court in issuing the TRO, let us allow it to explain),” he added.
Last month, Tolentino announced the P85 wage increase for minimum wage earners in Metro Manila.
He said deliberation for wage hike in Calabarzon, Central Luzon and Central Visayas are ongoing.