Tripartite council backs lifting TRO on NCR wage hike

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), employers and labor groups have reached a common position supporting the lifting of the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 152 in Pasig City against the implementation of the P85 daily wage increase under NCR Wage Order 27.

Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino said the agreement was reached during the meeting of the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (NTIPC) yesterday, which brought together representatives from the government, employers and workers to discuss the wage order dispute and other labor concerns.

Tolentino described the development as a “breakthrough,” noting that all three sectors agreed to call on the court to dissolve the TRO to allow the implementation of the wage increase.

“Employers and employees agreed. All labor groups are there. Employers, including ECOP (Employers Confederation of the Philippines), are there. DOLE is also part of this call to lift the temporary restraining order,” he said.

Tolentino said the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), which represents the government in the case, had already filed a motion for reconsideration seeking the lifting of the TRO.

The RTC Pasig Branch 152 earlier issued a TRO following a petition filed by construction companies questioning the validity of the wage order.

Tolentino said the possible impact of the tripartite agreement on the court’s decision would depend on the judiciary, but emphasized that the consensus provided a concrete mechanism toward resolving the issue.

Workers’ sector representative to the NTIPC Sonny Matula said labor groups supported the OSG motion for reconsideration, arguing that the RTC should have no jurisdiction over the case because employers should have first pursued administrative remedies before the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC). — Helen Flores

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