The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) expressed strong opposition on Friday to a preliminary injunction issued by Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 152, which halts a planned ₱85 wage hike for workers in Metro Manila.
The labor agency criticized the court ruling, warning that blocking the pay raise directly harms more than a million employees and their dependents who are relying on additional financial support.
”Ang desisyon ng Pasig RTC Branch 152 ay hindi lamang pumipigil sa dagdag-sahod—inaalis nito ang pagkain sa hapag ng mahigit isang milyong manggagawa sa Metro Manila at ng kanilang mga pamilya. Sa panahong mahalaga ang bawat piso, ipinagkakait ng desisyong ito sa ating mga manggagawa ang kaginhawaang kanilang pinaghirapan at kailangang-kailangan,” Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino said in a statement.
In response, DOLE announced that it will pursue all available legal avenues to challenge and overturn the court’s injunction.
”Gagamitin namin ang lahat ng legal na paraan upang labanan at maipawalang-bisa ang desisyong ito, at ipagtanggol ang karapatan at kapakanan ng ating mga manggagawa,” Tolentino said.
Emphasizing the vital role wages play in covering basic living costs such as food and housing, Tolentino reiterated the department’s commitment to championing workers’ rights.
”Hindi namin sila pababayaan. Lalaban kami hanggang masolusyunan ito at matanggap ng ating mga manggagawa ang nararapat para sa kanila,” Tolentino vowed.
The Pasig RTC Branch 152 issued the order following a petition filed by two construction companies, stating that the court needed to balance the rights and interests of both employers and employees.