National Capital Region—Starting July 18, minimum wage earners in Metro Manila will benefit from a ₱50 increase in their daily pay following the approval of a new wage order by the National Capital Region (NCR) Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB-NCR).
The wage hike, which was unanimously approved on June 26 and announced on June 30, raises the daily minimum wage for non-agricultural workers from ₱645 to ₱695 and from ₱608 to ₱658 for workers in the agriculture sector, service and retail establishments with 15 or fewer workers, and manufacturing firms with less than 10 employees.
According to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), around 1.2 million minimum wage earners in the region are expected to directly benefit from the wage hike, with an estimated 1.7 million more indirectly affected, including workers who are above the minimum but may see wage adjustments due to the wage distortion effect.
The increase is based on various factors such as inflation, rising cost of living, and the need to restore the purchasing power of low-income workers. The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) acknowledged the new wage order but reiterated concerns about the potential impact on small businesses.
This is the third wage hike in the NCR under the current administration. The previous increases were ₱33 in June 2022 and ₱40 in July 2023. With this latest adjustment, Metro Manila continues to have the highest regional minimum wage in the country.
The new wage order will take effect 15 days after its publication, as mandated by law.
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