Metro Manila workers to get ‘historic’ P85 minimum wage hike

MANILA, Philippines – Minimum wage workers in Metro Manila are set to receive a P85 daily pay increase, the largest ever approved by the National Capital Region (NCR) wage board.

The Department of Labor and Employment described the wage increase as “historic,” saying it would benefit more than 1.1 million workers in the capital region.

The adjustment will raise the daily minimum wage in Metro Manila from P695 to P780.

The increase, touted as the biggest single wage increase for NCR workers, will be rolled out in two tranches: P60 effective July 19, 2026, and another P25 effective January 20, 2027.

The increase comes as workers in the capital region grapple with steep living costs. PSA data show that families in Metro Manila recorded the highest average annual spending among all regions in 2023 at P385,050, well above the national average of P258,050. – Rappler.com