Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Photo from Kilusang Mayo Uno Facebook page

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1786372424275760491665_1486179373553600_6365638469042459496_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Labor groups hold a protest on August 3, 2026 against the temporary restraining order issued against Wage Order No. NCR-27. <em>Photo from Kilusang Mayo Uno Facebook page</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATED)</strong> — By bringing Wage Order No. NCR-27 to court, construction firms that secured a Temporary Restraining Order on the 85-peso increase in the daily minimum wage in Metro Manila have put workers&#x27; livelihood on the same level as a civil claim.</p><p>The problem, Federation of Free Workers president Sonny Matula said, is that a wage hike is meant to provide quick relief to workers and their families.</p><p>&quot;Hindi ito ordinaryong commercial or civil claim na puwedeng ipagpaliban nang matagal habang nililitis,&quot; he told ABS-CBN News.</p><p>(This is not an ordinary commercial or civil claim where a decision could take a long time.)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/7/30/pasig-court-grants-tro-halting-ncr-wage-hike-2218"><strong>Pasig court grants TRO halting NCR wage hike<br/></strong></a></div><p>Under the Civil Code, courts cannot seize worker&#x27;s wages to pay off debt because the money is for survival and their daily needs.</p><p>Matula, a labor lawyer, said &quot;the same policy applies with even greater force to a minimum-wage hike&quot; to help wage earners cope with high prices.</p><p>He said employers like contractors Readycon Trading and Construction Corp. and R-II Builders Inc. may have run to court to get immediate relief against a wage hike they said would affect their operations and their profits. </p><p>That, Matula said, &quot;is precisely the problem.&quot; </p><p>Under the Wage Rationalization Act, Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards issue wage orders after consultation among government, labor, and employers.</p><p>Those orders may be appealed at the National Wages and Productivity Commission but would not automatically stay implementation.</p><p>&quot;Allowing parties to bypass that process risks turning every future wage order into a race to the courthouse,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/8/6/labor-groups-ask-to-intervene-in-navotas-case-challenging-ncr-wage-hike-1611"><strong>Labor groups ask to intervene in Navotas case challenging NCR wage hike<br/></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;NOT ANTI-COURT&#x27;</strong></div><p>Matula stressed that FFW and other labor groups are not taking an &quot;anti-court&quot; stance in opposing the TRO but are standing for the rule of law.</p><p>Under current laws, wage boards hold hearings and consider factors like cost of living, workers&#x27; needs, and employers&#x27; capacity to pay before deciding on wage petitions.</p><p>&quot;Courts decide cases within their competence and jurisdiction; wage boards fix wages; and the NWPC hears the appeal on wage matters provided by law,&quot; he said.</p><p>The Pasig Regional Trial Court&#x27;s TRO stays implementation of the first P60 of the two-tranche increase until August 13.</p><p>But daily needs cannot wait for litigation to run its course. &quot;Justice delayed here can literally mean wages delayed,&quot; Matula said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/7/31/employers-cannot-revoke-adjusted-wage-paid-before-tro-dole-1757"><strong>Employers cannot revoke adjusted wage paid before TRO—DOLE<br/></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;VERY BAD PRECEDENT&#x27;</strong></div><p>Labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno also opposes the TRO, which its chair Jerome Adonis said sets &quot;a very bad precedent&quot; since courts have no jurisdiction on regional wage orders.</p><p>&quot;Ang liit na nga, hinati na nga sa dalawang tranche, nakialam pa ang RTC,&quot; he told ABS-CBN News.</p><p>(It was a small increase to start with and already split in two tranches, and the RTC had to step in.)</p><p>KMU Secretary General Mary Ann Castillo said big companies — particularly in provinces like Laguna that host special economic zones and where she is based — could use the tactic that Readycon and R-II used.</p><p>Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino, who called the wage hike &quot;historic&quot;, said on July 31 he was &quot;saddened&quot; that a TRO was issued but that the Department of Labor and Employment.</p><p>He has since issued an administrative order for DOLE regional office and for regional wage boards to monitor and ensure compliance with wage orders.</p><p>The same order requires the boards to simplify mechanisms for small businesses seeking exemptions from wage hikes.</p><p>&quot;Walang aasahan ang mga manggagawa kundi kumilos at ipaglaban ang disenteng pamumuhay at nakabubuhay na sahod,&quot; she said as she scored DOLE for, she said, &quot;not standing up for workers.&quot;</p><p>(Workers can rely only on taking action and fighting for a decent life and a living wage.)</p><p>Part of that fight for a living wage — or enough to meet daily needs and some savings — is pushing for a legislated nationwide wage increase to P1,200.</p><p>KMU has also called for the abolition of regional wage rates, saying they do not reflect the actual cost of living.  Adonis said that in the 36 years that the regional boards have existed, they have only granted &quot;small change&quot; as wage increases.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JPYotiZpeNY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Labor lawyer Sonny Matula stressed that the Federation of Free Workers and other labor groups are not taking an "anti-court" stance in opposing the TRO but are pushing for the rule of law.</p>

Labor lawyer Sonny Matula stressed that the Federation of Free Workers and other labor groups are not taking an "anti-court" stance in opposing the TRO but are pushing for the rule of law.

Workers, rising costs cannot wait for litigation on wage hike — labor lawyer

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Business

Workers, rising costs cannot wait for litigation on wage hike — labor lawyer

Jonathan de Santos,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 10, 2026 11:17 PM PHT

|

Updated August 11, 2026 11:18 AM PHT

Read More:

Department of Labor and Employment

Minimum wage hike

Federation of Free Workers

Kilusang Mayo Uno

Sonny Matula

Jerome Adonis

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

Haven't received our newsletter?

Check your inbox to verify and confirm your subscription.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.