Manila: The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will use every lawful remedy available to restore the PHP85 daily minimum wage increase and fight for workers who urgently need it. In a statement Friday, Secretary Francis Tolentino vowed to continue the fight for Metro Manila's minimum wage workers after its implementation was blocked by the decision of the Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 152.

According to Philippines News Agency, on Thursday, the Pasig RTC issued a writ of preliminary injunction against the implementation of Wage Order No. NCR-27, replacing the temporary restraining order that expired on Aug. 13. Tolentino said the DOLE will not simply accept a ruling that puts on hold wage relief meant for workers and their families.

'At a time when every peso matters, this ruling denies our workers the relief they have earned and urgently need,' the DOLE chief said. 'We strongly express concern over this setback for social justice. We will exhaust every lawful remedy to overturn this ruling and defend the rights and welfare of our workers.' Tolentino said it is DOLE's responsibility is to stand up for workers and their families.

Meanwhile, the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) and the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-National Capital Region (RTWPB-NCR) are ready to defend the implementation of the wage order. 'We will defend this mechanism as an instrument of social justice that protects vulnerable workers while balancing the interests of labor, management, and government,' the NWPC said.

'The NWPC and RTWPB-NCR will coordinate with the Office of the Solicitor General and pursue the appropriate legal remedies.' The NWPC said it respects the RTC ruling but stands firmly by the validity of the wage order and the integrity of the process undertaken by the RTWPB-NCR. 'The regional wage-setting mechanism under Republic Act No. 6727 has operated for more than three decades has been continuously strengthened through experience, jurisprudence, updated rules. It is neither an untested process nor one devised only for the present Wage Order,' it added.