MANILA, Philippines – Minimum wage earners in Metro Manila are set to receive a daily pay hike of ₱50, bringing the new daily minimum wage to ₱695 for the non-agriculture sector. The increase, approved by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board–National Capital Region and affirmed by the National Wages and Productivity Commission, will take effect on July 18.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced on Monday, June 30, that this wage adjustment, detailed under Wage Order No. NCR-26, is the highest ever granted by the RTWPB-NCR and is expected to benefit approximately 1.2 million minimum wage earners in the region.

Workers in the agriculture sector, along with those in retail and service establishments employing 15 or fewer individuals, and manufacturing firms with fewer than 10 regular workers, will also see a ₱50 increase, raising their daily wage from ₱608 to ₱658.

This daily increase translates to a monthly pay hike of ₱1,100 for employees working five days a week, or ₱1,300 for a six-day workweek. Factoring in mandatory benefits such as 13th-month pay, service incentive leave, SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG contributions, the new monthly take-home pay is estimated to range from ₱15,247 to ₱18,216.

Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma stated that the wage board’s decision considered various economic indicators for Metro Manila, including growth, inflation, and employment data. He emphasized the delicate balance wage boards must strike between protecting workers and ensuring business sustainability, while also promoting employment and productivity without triggering inflation.

The wage hike aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive for regular and timely minimum wage reviews, aiming to ensure fairness and strengthen the link between pay and productivity. Since 2023, the NCR minimum wage has cumulatively increased by ₱125.

DOLE plans to conduct an information campaign and intensify labor inspections to ensure widespread compliance with the new wage order. The NWPC also noted that around 1.7 million workers earning above the minimum wage might indirectly benefit from adjustments due to wage distortions. Exemptions from the wage hike may be granted to qualified small businesses and enterprises affected by calamities, adhering to existing wage guidelines.

The National Capital Region is the first to issue a wage order for 2025, with wage consultations in other regions, including Regions I, II, III, IV-A, and VII, scheduled between July and August.