Over 5.2 million Filipino workers see pay hikes after 2025 wage hikes: DOLE

The adjustments covered both private sector employees and domestic workers, with daily wage hikes for private sector workers ranging from P20 to P100, while household workers received monthly increases of between P300 and P2,000. 

According to DOLE, the wage orders were implemented in the National Capital Region (NCR), the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and Regions I, II, III, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XII, and XIII, following the National Wages and Productivity Commission’s (NWPC) policy of regular, moderate, and predictable wage adjustments. 

Metro Manila continued to post the highest minimum wages in the country, with daily rates ranging from P658 to P695, reflecting the capital’s higher cost of living. 

“All wage orders were issued motu proprio, the majority of which received unanimous approval from the concerned Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards,” DOLE said, highlighting the consensus-driven nature of the decisions. 

The agency added that the wage increases took effect after the anniversary dates of previous wage orders, a move intended to ensure policy stability while maintaining investor confidence. 

The timing, DOLE said, was carefully calibrated to promote a business-friendly environment while advancing the goal of decent, productive, and sustainable employment. 

Wage policy reviews are set to continue, with regional wage boards in Regions XI and V expected to begin their minimum wage determination processes in January and February 2026, respectively. 

Beyond minimum wage earners, DOLE said around eight million full-time wage and salary workers earning above the minimum wage are also expected to benefit indirectly through the correction of wage distortions at the enterprise level. 

“Wage distortion occurs when a mandated wage increase eliminates or significantly reduces intentional quantitative differences in wage or salary rates,” DOLE said, citing NWPC Advisory No. 01, Series of 2023.

The department emphasized that wage-setting decisions were made following consultations with both workers and employers to strike a balance between worker protection, business viability, and employment generation. These decisions remain aligned with International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 131 and the ILO Minimum Wage Fixing Guide.

The NWPC continues to support regional wage boards by simplifying wage structures and providing exemption mechanisms for enterprises affected by calamities. Employers and workers were also encouraged to access government support initiatives such as the Adjustment Measures Program (AMP) to help cushion the impact of economic disruptions and external shocks.