What the ₱50 NCR minimum wage hike means for Metro Manila workers

A ₱50 daily wage increase has been approved for minimum wage earners in Metro Manila, following a decision by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board–National Capital Region (RTWPB–NCR).

The new wage order, formally known as Wage Order No. NCR-26, will take effect on July 18, 2025, exactly one year after the last adjustment.

This increase is now the highest wage hike ever granted by the NCR wage board and is expected to benefit over 1.2 million private sector workers in the region. Under the new order, the daily minimum wage for non-agriculture workers will rise from ₱645 to ₱695.

Meanwhile, for workers in the agriculture sector and in service or retail establishments with 15 or fewer employees, the wage will increase from ₱608 to ₱658.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) estimates that this translates to a monthly income gain of around ₱1,100 to ₱1,300, depending on the number of days worked in a month.

According to DOLE, the wage board conducted a series of public hearings and consultations before finalizing the increase. These discussions took into account inflation, cost-of-living adjustments, and the overall economic conditions affecting both workers and employers in Metro Manila.

Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma stated that the new wage order was a result of careful deliberation, aiming to balance the welfare of workers with the viability concerns of employers, particularly small businesses still recovering from economic headwinds.

The wage hike is projected to directly benefit around 1.2 million minimum wage earners in the NCR. In addition, DOLE noted that an estimated 1.7 million workers could receive indirect adjustments as companies address potential wage distortions within their internal salary structures.

While these adjustments are not mandatory under the wage order, they are often implemented to maintain fairness and employee morale.

With this increase, the estimated monthly take-home pay for a non-agriculture worker in Metro Manila could now range from ₱15,247 to ₱18,216. This figure includes standard benefits such as the 13th month pay, service incentive leave, and employer contributions to SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG.

The wage order is scheduled to be published in a newspaper of general circulation on July 3. Following the mandatory 15-day waiting period, the wage hike will officially become legally enforceable on July 18.