METRO Manila workers are set to receive a P50 daily increase starting July 18, following the approval of a new wage order, said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
The NCR Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) issued Wage Order No. NCR-26, raising the daily minimum wage from P645 to P695 for those in the non-agriculture sector.
Meanwhile, workers in agriculture, retail and service establishments with 15 or fewer employees, and manufacturing firms with fewer than 10 workers will see their wages rise from P608 to P658.
This adjustment comes almost a year after the last wage increase in the region took effect on July 17, 2024, when a P35 hike was implemented.
According to DOLE, the new rate marks the highest increase ever approved by the NCR wage board. The department estimates that around 1.2 million minimum wage earners will directly benefit from the adjustment.
The National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) added that about 1.7 million full-time employees earning just above the minimum wage could also see gains, as employers may revise pay structures to address wage distortions—instances when the gap between entry-level and higher-level wages is reduced or eliminated due to a new minimum rate.
