Labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) has demanded clear, explicit, and unequivocal directives from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regarding the agency’s recent directive of a P60 wage increase for minimum wage earners in the National Capital Region (NCR) issued on Friday, September 11.
Wage Order No. 28 ordering the P60 minimum wage hike in National Capital Region was approved by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board – National Capital Region (RTWPB-NCR), raising the minimum wage for non-agricultural workers to P755 from the P695 which is set to take effect in September 26 or 27.
The order was apart from the P85 minimum wage increase under the precedent Wage Order No. 27 originally set to take effect last July 25 but had been challenged by private companies, ultimately leading Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) to issue an injuction and temporarily freeze its implementation.
This drew flak from labor coalitions including TUCP prompting groups to demand solid guidelines from DOLE whether the new order will supersede the court-stuck Wage Order No. 27 and the conditions that surround the passage of the new wage order.
“Ayaw ng mga manggagawa mabokya, pero ayaw din nilang madaya! Wage Order No. 27, which grants an ₱85 wage increase effective July 25, 2026, remains effective, yet why is DOLE refusing to implement it despite the absence of a writ of preliminary injunction, particularly when the required bond has not been posted?” the labor group questions.
Additionally, TUCP seeks further explanation whether the Wage Order No. 28 is intended to be a transitional measure while the the Wage Order is temporarily freezed as the group emphasize that workers face roughly P3,000 loss in accumulated backpay since July 25 this year.
The group also questioned the approval process of the latest wage order, addressing its lack of public participation, consultation, and deliberation, including the NWPC’s review and affirmation on its passage as it was done in a closed-door setup.
TUCP including other labor coalitions also cautioned concerned agencies of stronger worker resistance in response to the ambiguous wage order circumstance.
“Continued government indifference will only intensify workers’ anger and trigger broader and sustained mass demonstrations. The Government still has the opportunity to prevent this from becoming a full-blown labor crisis, but that window is closing fast,” warns TUCP.
