A labor NGO condemned today the ruling issued by the Pasig Regional Trial Court suspending the implementation of the P85 minimum wage hike for private sector workers in Metro Manila, saying it shows the government’s insensitivity towards the plight of the country’s workers.

The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) criticized the decision handed down by Pasig RTC Executive Judge Achilles Bulauitan dated July 24 giving the petitioners from the private sector time to file a Temporary Restraining Order, saying it shows a lack of understanding of the extent of workers’ suffering due to high prices and the economic crisis.

“So the historically highest minimum wage hike in Metro Manila is being met with a court suspension, also a historical first. The increase is supposed to show that the government cares for workers, but this ruling shows us that the government is manhid, numb, to the workers’ suffering,” said Kamz Deligente, CTUHR executive director.

Deligente challenged the petitioners, construction companies Readycon Trading and Construction Corp., represented by its president Jesus F. Ignacio, and R-II Builders Inc., represented by its president Carlos B. Carlos, which online materials reveal to be government contractors not small businesses, to disclose how the wage hike would harm their business.

“We are concerned with the condition of our small and medium enterprises. In our dialogues with them, they tell us that what is really hurting their businesses are high power rates, taxes, bureaucratic kickbacks, and cost of raw materials and competition from big corporations – not labor cost. The problem is it’s easier for them to press down wages,” Deligente added.

CTUHR said that the court suspension of the P85 wage hike, which was announced by Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino on June 30, is a challenge to the country’s workers to speak up on social media and various venues, and hold protests to show that they are suffering from the high prices of basic goods and services.

“The court ruling is of course perfectly legal; it shows that the government is operating according to its rules. The challenge now lies with the country’s workers. We know that they are suffering from the cost of living crisis, but we have yet to see if this court decision will cause them to speak out and act,” said Deligente.

The labor NGO said that the court decision is also a litmus test for the government of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to demonstrate political resolve to provide a little relief to the country’s workers, lest it exposes that it was just trying to pacify workers’ demands for a significant wage hike especially before his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 27.

“In his SONA, Marcos Jr bragged about his government’s relief measures for the country’s workers. This court ruling threatens to reveal his concern for workers as a sham, and his government’s relief measures for workers as band-aid solutions. He should ensure that the wage hike gets implemented,” Deligente