CALABARZON, Philippines — Domestic workers across the Calabarzon region will receive a minimum monthly wage of ₱7,500 beginning October 26, following a new wage order issued by the regional wage board, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced.
Acting Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino said the adjustment covers household workers, including househelps, nannies, cooks, gardeners, and laundry workers.
The new minimum wage applies to both live-in and live-out domestic workers. However, family drivers, service providers, and individuals hired on an occasional or irregular basis are not covered by the order.
Tolentino said the new rates would take effect 15 days after the wage order’s publication. Employers are required to pay their domestic workers in cash at least once a month, with no exemptions from the mandated minimum wage.
The wage adjustment for domestic workers comes alongside a ₱45 increase in the daily take-home pay of minimum wage earners in the region.
Calabarzon, also known as Region IV-A, consists of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon. Based on DOLE estimates, approximately 201,000 domestic workers in the region are expected to benefit from the higher monthly wage.
The order also allows employers and domestic workers to agree on compensation above the prescribed minimum, taking into consideration the worker’s skills and performance.
Employers who fail to comply with the new wage requirements or violate Republic Act No. 10361, or the Batas Kasambahay, may face the corresponding legal penalties.
The measure aims to ensure that domestic workers receive at least the legally mandated minimum compensation for their services.