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Renalyn Ramirez - Philstar.com
August 28, 2026 | 6:24pm
This undated photo shows the logo of the Supreme Court at the Supreme Court Building in Manila.
Philstar.com / Ian Laqui
MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has ordered two construction firms and a commercial fishing group to comment on a labor petition seeking to nullify lower court orders blocking Metro Manila's P85 minimum wage increase.
Readycon Trading and Construction Corp., R-II Builders Inc. and the Alliance of Philippine Fishing Federations Inc. were given 10 days to respond to the petition for certiorari and prohibition filed by KAMANGGAGAWA Party-list and other labor groups.
The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-National Capital Region and the National Wages and Productivity Commission were also given 10 days to submit their comments.
Labor groups went to the Supreme Court earlier this month after courts in Pasig and Navotas acted on separate challenges to NCR Wage Order No. 27.
The Pasig court issued a writ of preliminary injunction blocking the wage increase after Readycon and R-II Builders questioned the validity of the wage order. The Navotas court, meanwhile, set a clarificatory hearing on APFFI's request for a status quo ante order.
The P85 increase was supposed to be implemented in two tranches: P60 effective July 25 and another P25 on Jan. 20, 2027.
Labor groups argue that the lower courts had no authority to restrain the wage order, citing provisions of the Labor Code governing challenges to regional wage decisions.
They also asked the Supreme Court to halt further proceedings in the lower courts.
The wage increase remains suspended while the Pasig court's injunction is in effect. — with Ian Laqui
