CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Millions of minimum wage earners in Metro Manila could face a longer wait for their promised ₱85 daily pay increase after labor groups asked a Navotas court to throw out a petition seeking to block the wage hike.
The Federation of Free Workers (FFW) and the NAGKAISA! Labor Coalition on Wednesday filed an urgent motion to intervene in the court case challenging NCR Wage Order No. 27, arguing that workers should have a voice in a legal battle that directly affects their income.
The filing comes as the wage increase remains stalled after another regional trial court earlier issued a temporary restraining order (TRO), preventing the first ₱60 tranche from taking effect.
FFW President Atty. Sonny Matula said the case goes beyond legal procedures because it impacts the livelihoods of millions of workers already struggling with rising living costs.
The labor coalition argued that several unions participated in the wage-setting process before the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board but were not included as parties in the lawsuit.
The groups also questioned the court's authority to hear issues involving wage distortion, saying the Labor Code requires such disputes to be settled through grievance procedures, arbitration, or the National Labor Relations Commission rather than the regional trial court.
"A court without jurisdiction has only one lawful authority—to dismiss the petition," Matula said in a statement.
Labor leaders said the TRO has delayed the release of the first ₱60 increase that had been publicly announced by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, leaving workers waiting for higher pay they expected to receive.
The coalition urged the court to uphold the wage order and allow the increase to proceed, arguing that wage-setting is a function assigned by law to the country's wage boards and should not be overturned through court intervention.
The petition filed by fishing companies challenging the wage order remains pending before the court. No ruling has yet been issued on the labor groups' motion to intervene. (Ben Balce, Editorial Lead)
