Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Francis N. Tolentino expressed the Department’s deep gratitude to members of the Senate under the 20th Congress for standing behind Filipino workers through Senate Resolution No. 577, filed by Senate Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Signed on August 4, the resolution stated the Senate’s strong support for the immediate lifting of the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) issued against Wage Order No. NCR-27, while urging judicial restraint on matters legally entrusted to wage-setting authorities. The resolution also backed DOLE, the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC), and the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board – National Capital Region (RTWPB-NCR).
DOLE commends the leadership of Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano for championing the urgent need to uphold statutory wage increases in NCR and all other regions in the future and ensure fair compensation and dignified living conditions for Filipino workers.
On July 30, the Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) temporarily halted, until August 13, the implementation of Wage Order No. NCR-27, which would have increased the daily wage rate of minimum wage workers in the National Capital Region starting July 25.
Secretary Tolentino earlier reiterated that the DOLE is working with the Office of the Solicitor-General to challenge the TRO issued by the Pasig RTC.
“Ang posisyon ng DOLE ay isulong po iyon (wage hike) kasi nga kami nga ‘yung testigo rito (TRO), eh. Kami ‘yung nagpapatunay. Kami lang ‘yung nagpapatunay na tama ‘yung proseso, tama ‘yung ibinigay na ₱60, ₱25. Tama po ‘yung pinagdaanan ng lahat sang-ayon sa Labor Code of the Philippines,” the Labor Chief said in an interview.
DOLE commits to continuously promote workers’ rights and welfare, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s directive to uphold the dignity of Filipino workers.
