Why Metro Manila’s ‘historic’ P85 wage increase was put on hold
A Pasig court has issued a temporary restraining order halting a scheduled minimum wage increase for workers in Metro Manila. The move follows a legal challenge from construction companies concerned about the financial impact of the wage hike.
Why it matters
This conflict highlights the tension between labor rights and business operational costs in a developing economy.
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Workers perform their tasks at a construction site in Manila, April 30, 2026.
A Pasig court has temporarily halted the implementation of a P85 daily minimum wage increase for over one million workers in Metro Manila, following a request from two construction companies. The first P60 increase took effect on July 25, raising wages from P695 to P755, with an additional P25 increase scheduled for January 2027, but the court's temporary restraining order is in place until August 13. Labor groups criticized the court's decision, arguing it undermines the established appeals process, while business groups expressed concerns about the potential negative impact on small enterprises and the economy. This is AI-generated.
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