MANILA, Philippines – Kinondena ng mga senador ang temporary restraining order na inilabas ng Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 152 laban sa pagpapatupad ng P85 dagdag sa arawang minimum wage sa Metro Manila.
Nag-ugat ang TRO, na epektibo hanggang Agosto 13, sa petisyong inihain ng Readycon Trading and Construction Corp. at R-11 Builders, Inc. laban sa Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-NCR at National Wages and Productivity Commission.
Iginiit ni Sen. Raffy Tulfo na taliwas umano ang kautusan sa Article 126 ng Labor Code, na nagbabawal sa mga korte, tribunal, at iba pang awtoridad na maglabas ng injunction o TRO laban sa mga pagdinig at proseso ng regional wage boards. Aniya, dapat inihain sa NWPC ang apela.
“The wage increase is already meager dspite the continuous rise in the prices of goods, and now even that has been denied to our struggling workers who simply want to make ends meet,” pahayag ni Tulfo.
Hinati sa dalawang tranche ang P85 umento: P60 na ipinatupad noong Hulyo 25 at natitirang P25 na nakatakdang ipatupad sa Enero 1, 2027.
“Suspending their wage increase is an even greater violation of theri rights, especially amid the continuing rise in the prices of basic goods. The lives and livelihoods of laborerrs should take precedence in this matter,” ani Tulfo.
“The court should no longer interfere in this issue, and it would be better for these companies—who show no appreciation for the contributions of their workers to their businesses—to pursue their appeal through the proper process,” dagdag niya.
Sinabi ni Tulfo na maghahain siya ng panukalang batas upang amyendahan ang Article 126 at maiwasan ang kalituhan sa pagpapatupad nito sa mga wage increase.
Nanawagan din si Sen. Risa Hontiveros na agad ipatupad ang wage order at hinimok ang Department of Labor and Employment at Office of the Solicitor General na ipabasura ang kaso o ipatanggal ang TRO.
“First, the P85 wage hike must be implemented. It’s already a modest increase, and it’s even being paid in installments. Groups such as the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines have already agreed to it, and some employers are prepared to provide the wage increase. So workers should not lose this pay raise simply because it has been blocked in court,” ani Hontiveros.
Hinikayat niya ang mga negosyong humihiling ng exemption na dumaan sa wastong administrative process at igalang ang tripartite wage-setting system.
“I also urge our business community: let us go through the administrative processes for exemption. Let us respect the law and the tripartite system in which workers, employers, and the government all have a voice,” aniya.
“If this system is bypassed, the predictability and industrial peace that allow businesses to thrive will be put at risk,” dagdag niya.
Nanawagan din si Hontiveros na ibaba ang singil sa kuryente upang hindi mabawi ng mataas na electric bill ang dagdag na sahod ng mga manggagawa.
“When it comes to the wage hike and reducing electricity charges, we have solutions, we have the means, and we can fix this,” sinabi niya.
Sinabi naman ni Sen. Joel Villanueva, chairman ng Senate Committee on Labor and Employment, na bagama’t iginagalang niya ang korte, nalilito siya sa desisyon dahil sa Article 126 ng Labor Code.
“As head of the Senate labor panel, I’m also saddened by this development. This increase is badly needed by our workers. I’m also confused by that decision primarily because of Article 126 of the Labor Code,” ani Villanueva.
“I’m more than willing to be corrected, but that is also my understanding of the law,” dagdag niya.
Umaasa si Villanueva na agad malulutas at malilinaw ang mga legal na usapin kaugnay ng wage increase. RNT
