The federal government will seek legal remedies to overturn a court-ordered temporary freeze on the minimum wage hike within the National Capital Region (NCR), arguing that the salary adjustment followed due process, labor officials said on Friday.
On Thursday, the Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 152 issued a 20-day temporary restraining order against the implementation of Wage Order No. 27, which granted a P85 day by day minimum wage increase for private-sector staff in Metro Manila.
The order suspends the primary tranche of P60, which took effect on July 25, to be followed by a further P25 in January 2027.
Labor Secretary Francis N. Tolentino said employees who’ve already received the initial wage increase won’t be required to refund the quantity.
“The employees have already got a vested right, in order that shouldn’t be returned… because on the time it was received, there was no order from the National Wages and Productivity Commission that it was suspended,” Mr. Tolentino said in an announcement in Filipino.
He said the Office of the Solicitor General will lead the legal efforts and represent the national wage commission within the court proceedings.
The legal challenge was initiated by two construction firms who argued that the “abrupt” mandated increase could be entirely absorbed by their budgets, resulting in sustained deficits and potential job cuts.
Sarah Buena S. Mirasol, chairperson of the NCR wage board, maintained that the wage board operated inside its legal mandate in issuing the wage hike.
She added that the plaintiffs must have exhausted administrative remedies by appealing to the national commission before searching for judicial intervention.
“We’re confident of the proven fact that we followed due process, and we follow the method as provided in the rules for the minimum wage fixing,” Ms. Mirasol said.
She added that any request for a restraining order should exhibit “harm to all minimum wage earners moderately than a particular sector.”
The federal government plans to argue for the hike’s validity within the upcoming August 3 hearing. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking