The Association of Minimum Wage Earners and Advocates (AMWEA-PTGWO) is demanding the immediate execution of the initial ₱60 minimum wage hike under National Capital Region (NCR) Wage Order No. 27, citing the expiration of a temporary restraining order (TRO) and the petitioners’ failure to secure an injunction bond.
In an August 27 letter to Acting Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino, the labor union urged the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to mandate employers across Metro Manila to start distributing the wage adjustment.
“Dahil naglapse na ang TRO at hindi naging effective ang preliminary injunction, effective na ang Wage Order No. 27. Dapat ng bayaran ng mga kumpanya ang ₱60 na umento sa minimum wage,” stated AMWEA-PTGWO.
The dispute stems from a declaratory relief petition filed before the Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch No. 152 by Readycon Trading and Construction Corporation alongside RII-Builders, Inc. against the NCR Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board and the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC).
While Judge Marie Joyce Manongsong issued an August 13 order granting a preliminary injunction against the wage order, the court required the petitioning firms to post a ₱10-billion bond. Instead of providing the required amount, the companies submitted an Omnibus Motion on August 16 requesting a reduction of the bond value.
With the court’s earlier TRO from August 4 having elapsed, AMWEA-PTGWO contends that no active legal barrier remains.
“Ang sabi ng motion ng Readycon at RII-Builders, napakalaki daw ng bond na 10 bilyong piso. Nagtaka sila kung bakit ang halaga ng bond ay binatay sa region wide impact ng injunction. Ito ay samantalang hindi naman sila nagsampa ng class suit para sa lahat ng mga employers sa NCR,” the group noted.
AMWEA-PTGWO, an intervenor in the case and an affiliate of the Philippine Trade and General Workers Organization, emphasized that declaratory relief is an in personam legal action applying strictly to the involved parties rather than the entire region.
“Ngayon ay nilinaw ng Readycon at RII-Builders na ganito nga ang kanilang intensyon sa kanilang petisyon. Hindi nila intindihin ang kalahatan ng mga manggagawa sa NCR. Ang sa kanilang konsiderasyon at interes ay ang sarili lamang nilang mga kumpanya,” the organization remarked.
The labor advocate warned that failure to comply voluntarily could prompt widespread legal claims against non-compliant businesses across Metro Manila.
“Malinaw na wala ng balakid sa pagpapatupad ng first tranche na ₱60 minimum wage increase. Nawa ay kusang loob na itong ibigay ng ating mga kumpanya sa Metro Manila. Kung hindi ay baka bahain ang DOLE at mga tanggapan nito ng mga kaso upang mabayaran ng tama ang ating mga minimum wage earners at ibang pang mga manggagawa,” the union cautioned.