MANILA, Philippines — Minimum wage workers across the capital region were expecting extra pay in their paychecks this week, but a sudden court order has put everything on pause. The long-awaited P85 wage hike in Metro Manila is officially on hold after the Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 152 issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) halting Wage Order No. NCR-27. The legal challenge, filed by two private construction companies, has left more than 1.1 million minimum wage earners across Metro Manila wondering when—or if—they will actually see their promised salary increase.
The news about the P85 wage hike in Metro Manila being stopped came as a huge disappointment to many working families. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) expressed deep sadness over the court’s decision. However, Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino assured the public that the government will respect the judicial system while working closely with the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to defend the salary increase in court.
How the Wage Increase Was Supposed to Work
Before the court stepped in, Wage Order No. NCR-27 was approved by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board – National Capital Region (RTWPB-NCR) and confirmed by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC). The P85 wage hike in Metro Manila was designed as a two-step relief package to help workers deal with the rising costs of food, transportation, and basic utility bills:
- First Phase (July 25, 2026): A ₱60 daily increase meant to raise the non-agricultural daily minimum wage from ₱695 to ₱755. For workers in agriculture, small retail shops with 15 or fewer employees, and small manufacturing shops with fewer than 10 workers, daily pay was set to rise from ₱658 to ₱718.
- Second Phase (January 20, 2027): An additional ₱25 daily increase, which would complete the implementation of the P85 wage hike in Metro Manila and bring non-agricultural daily minimum pay to ₱780 and agricultural/small business pay to ₱743.
DOLE estimated that the full rollout of the P85 wage hike in Metro Manila would directly help around 1.1 million minimum wage earners. On top of that, another 1.9 million workers earning slightly above the minimum rate were expected to get indirect pay adjustments as companies fixed salary gaps across different job positions.
However, right after the first ₱60 increase of the P85 wage hike in Metro Manila took effect on July 25, court action stopped the entire process in its tracks.
Why the Court Stopped the Wage Increase
The legal fight against the P85 wage hike in Metro Manila started when two private construction firms—Readycon Trading and Construction Corporation and R-II Builders Inc.—filed a petition in court. The companies argued that forcing businesses to pay higher salaries without enough preparation time creates heavy financial pressure that could harm operations, delay projects, or force companies to cut jobs.
Pasig RTC Branch 152 granted the TRO to temporarily pause Wage Order No. NCR-27 while judges review the claims made by the construction firms against the P85 wage hike in Metro Manila.
Responding to the ruling, Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino made it clear that DOLE has no choice but to follow the court order regarding the P85 wage hike in Metro Manila for now:
“Malungkot ako para sa mga manggagawa pero susunod tayo sa utos ng husgado. Kung anuman ang naging basehan ng husgado sa paglalabas ng TRO, hayaan na po natin na sila ang magpaliwanag,” Tolentino said in an official statement.
However, Secretary Tolentino gave a critical assurance to employees who already got the first pay increase in their latest paycheck. He clarified that workers who received the initial tranche of the P85 wage hike in Metro Manila between July 25 and July 30 do not have to return the money, and employers are not allowed to deduct those payments from future wages.
DOLE Insists Proper Rules Were Followed
Even with the temporary court freeze on the P85 wage hike in Metro Manila, labor officials are standing by their original decision. They insist that Wage Order No. NCR-27 was created in complete accordance with Republic Act 6727, also known as the Wage Rationalization Act.
DOLE-NCR Regional Director and Wage Board Chairperson Sarah Buena S. Mirasol explained that the board conducted proper public consultations with all sides before approving the P85 wage hike in Metro Manila:
“We discussed the different positions and comments of labor, the employers, as well as the government. We are confident in the fact that we followed due process, and we followed the process as provided in the guidelines for minimum wage fixing,” Mirasol explained.
Labor Secretary Tolentino confirmed that DOLE is preparing legal arguments alongside government lawyers to fight the TRO and restore the P85 wage hike in Metro Manila. The labor department plans to show the court that public consultations were done thoroughly and that the board carefully weighed worker needs against what businesses can afford to pay.
Worker Anger and Reactions Online: “Isusubo Na Lang, Nawala Pa”
The sudden stop to the P85 wage hike in Metro Manila triggered quick anger among trade unions and online worker communities, including forums like Reddit’s r/AntiworkPH. Many workers pointed out that while their salary increase is frozen by legal battles, everyday costs like rice, vegetables, jeepney fares, electricity, and rent keep going up every single day.
Labor organizations did not hold back in criticizing the court order blocking the P85 wage hike in Metro Manila:
Nagkaisa Labor Coalition
Nagkaisa called the court order unfair and pointed out that under Article 124 of the Labor Code, appeals against wage orders should go through the wage commission, not trial courts.
“The TRO delays relief for millions of minimum wage earners, who have already waited too long for a modest wage increase amidst soaring prices of food, electricity, transport, and housing. Workers cannot eat TROs. Families cannot survive on injunctions,” Nagkaisa stated.
Partido Manggagawa (PM)
Partido Manggagawa shared the frustration felt by thousands of everyday employees over the delayed P85 wage hike in Metro Manila, using a phrase that quickly circulated online:
“Isusubo na lang, nawala pa. Wages delayed is wages denied.”
FFW and TUCP
Federation of Free Workers (FFW) President Sonny Matula stressed that court delays over the P85 wage hike in Metro Manila directly harm poor families who are struggling to buy basic groceries. The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) added that taking away the expected pay raise hurts the whole economy because families have less money to spend on everyday necessities.
The Side of Business Owners and Contractors
While workers feel frustrated over the blocked P85 wage hike in Metro Manila, business owners and construction groups view the situation differently. They argue that sudden pay increases create serious financial difficulties for companies operating on tight profit margins.
Construction firms and small business groups pointed out that implementing the P85 wage hike in Metro Manila means roughly a 12% to 14% jump in direct labor costs. For construction companies working under long-term, fixed-budget contracts, they cannot simply charge their clients more money overnight. Instead, management has to pay those extra labor costs out of their own pockets.
Business analysts highlighted three major challenges for employers regarding the P85 wage hike in Metro Manila:
- Fixed Project Budgets: Construction projects with pre-approved budgets suffer heavy financial losses when daily labor rates rise unexpectedly in the middle of a contract.
- Added Overhead Expenses: Higher daily base pay under the P85 wage hike in Metro Manila automatically increases employer contributions for SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, and year-end 13th-month pay calculations.
- Salary Gaps for Older Staff: Raising minimum pay forces companies to adjust the pay of mid-level workers to keep salary structures fair, adding even more to overall monthly costs.
Daily Minimum Wage vs. Real Daily Expenses
The fight over the P85 wage hike in Metro Manila brings back an ongoing question: is the legal minimum wage really enough for a family to live on in Metro Manila?
| Wage Rate / Metric | Daily Amount (Non-Agricultural) |
| Old Minimum Wage Floor | ₱695.00 |
| First Phase Goal (Now Blocked) | ₱755.00 |
| Final Goal (Jan 2027) | ₱780.00 |
| Government Poverty Line (Family of 5) | ~₱452.00 |
| Estimated Living Wage (Independent Research) | ~₱1,200.00+ |
Government stats show that the target rates under the P85 wage hike in Metro Manila are higher than the official poverty threshold of around ₱452 a day for a family of five. However, independent research groups like IBON Foundation argue that official poverty lines are way too low for real life in the city. Their studies show that a family of five living in Metro Manila actually needs around ₱1,200 every day to pay for proper meals, rent, utilities, medical care, and school expenses.
What Happens Next for Workers and Employers?
Right now, the fate of the P85 wage hike in Metro Manila rests in the hands of the court. If the Pasig RTC lifts the temporary restraining order or if higher courts overturn it, DOLE will immediately order employers to pay the first ₱60 increase.
While waiting for legal decisions on the P85 wage hike in Metro Manila, Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino asked workers and union groups to stay calm. At the same time, this court delay is pushing lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives to consider passing a nationwide wage hike law that would bypass regional wage boards altogether.
For over a million minimum wage workers in Metro Manila, this legal battle over the P85 wage hike in Metro Manila is not just about news headlines—it directly decides whether they can afford basic needs for their families in the days ahead.
Get the latest news and updates right here on Metro Balita PH.
