MANILA, Philippines — Minimum wage earners in Metro Manila received a ₱60 daily pay increase starting Saturday, September 26, following the implementation of Wage Order No. NCR-28 by the regional wage board.
The increase brings the daily baseline pay for non-agricultural workers from ₱695 to ₱755. Meanwhile, daily rates for employees in the agriculture sector, service and retail establishments with 15 or fewer staff, and manufacturing firms employing under 10 workers rose from ₱658 to ₱718.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) estimates the adjustment will directly benefit roughly 1.1 million workers.
The new wage order serves as a corrective measure following a legal challenge to the previous rule, Wage Order No. NCR-27. That earlier order had scheduled an ₱85 total increase split into two phases—₱60 this year and ₱25 in January.
However, a Pasig court issued a stay order after two construction companies sought judicial intervention, sparking public criticism against Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino over DOLE’s handling of court jurisdiction in labor matters.
With the new order now active, Tolentino urged business owners to adjust their payroll systems immediately to reflect the updated pay scale.
“The Department will continue to monitor compliance with the wage order and provide guidance to workers and employers on its proper implementation,” he said.