Akbayan to DOLE: Stop issuing wage orders, start giving workers wage hikes

September 13, 2026

By ABOGADO.COM.PH Staff

Akbayan Party has urged the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to immediately implement the new P60 minimum wage increase in Metro Manila, saying workers need actual wage hikes instead of new wage orders that could again get stalled by legal challenges.

The call came after the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-NCR approved another P60 wage increase on Sept. 7.

Akbayan Party President Rafaela David said the new wage order would mean little if workers do not actually receive the increase.

“A new wage order doesn’t mean anything if it doesn’t increase wages. What happens if this new order is again challenged by the employers before the court? Titiklop na naman ba ulit ang DOLE?” David said.

David said DOLE should focus on enforcing wage increases instead of repeatedly issuing new orders.

“DOLE should stop churning out wage orders one after another and start implementing them. Workers do not need another wage order that folds at the slightest legal challenge. Workers need a DOLE with the spine to stand by its own decisions and the resolve to make sure its wage increase orders actually reach workers’ pockets,” she said.

Akbayan called for the immediate implementation of the new wage hike, saying that even a small increase matters to workers struggling with daily expenses.

“Every peso matters to workers struggling to make ends meet. The government must ensure that the new wage order does not become another promise on paper,” David said.

She also warned against another delay similar to what happened to NCR Wage Order No. 27, whose implementation was suspended by a Pasig court following a legal challenge.

“Hindi sapat ang gumawa ng bagong wage order kung mauuwi rin ito sa pagkaantala. Nakatengga na sa korte ang Wage Order No. 27. Huwag na nating hayaang maulit ito sa bagong wage order,” David said.#