Labor leaders called on the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) to defend a suspended P85 daily wage increase for Metro Manila workers, insisting that a newly approved replacement order does not render their legal challenge moot.

Sonny Matula, president of the Federation of Free Workers and chairperson of the NAGKAKAISA Labor Coalition, affirmed that labor groups will continue their legal petition regarding Wage Order 27 despite the recent approval of Wage Order 28, which provides a smaller P60 increase.

To recall, the DoLE revealed during a House of Representatives budget hearing on 8 September that Wage Order 28 was approved to resolve an ongoing legal impasse before the Pasig Regional Trial Court, which had halted the implementation of Wage Order 27.

Wage Order 27, issued by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board–National Capital Region, mandated an P85 wage increase to be paid in two tranches — a P60 increase initially scheduled for 25 July and a P25 increase set for 20 January 2027.

Implementation was halted on 30 July when Pasig RTC Branch 152 granted a temporary restraining order following separate petitions filed by two firms.

The court later requested a P10 billion bond from the petitioners for a preliminary injunction to keep the wage order suspended.

Labor groups, including the Federation of Free Workers, filed certiorari petitions before the Supreme Court seeking to dismiss the trial court cases.

Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino also filed a motion in August requesting the trial court to lift the injunction.

Matula argued that the trial court lacked legal authority to intervene in wage board decisions, citing Article 126 of the Labor Code, which restricts courts from enjoining wage board proceedings, and Article 123, which specifies appeals must go to the National Wages and Productivity Commission.

While acknowledging the labor department’s efforts to find a resolution, Matula disclosed that labor coalition members will pursue their Supreme Court petition to its conclusion, arguing that workers should not face delayed wage adjustments or compromise orders due to employer litigation.