The daily pay of at least 1.2 million minimum wage earners in Metro Manila will now be P50 higher, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced on Monday.

The National Capital Region (NCR) Regional Tripartite Wages & Productivity Board unanimously approved the move to adjust the daily wage of non-agricultural workers from P645 to P695, and from P608 to P658 for agricultural workers.

"The increase, which was unanimously approved by the NCR wage board, is the highest ever granted by the NCR wage board," said Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma.

Taking effect on July 18, this will lead to an increase of P1,100 per month for employees working five days a week, and up to P1,300 per month for those working six days.

“Under the new rate, non-agriculture workers will have a monthly take-home pay of about P15,247 to P18,216 for a five-day and six-day workweek, respectively, inclusive of mandatory social welfare benefits such as 13th month pay, service incentive leave, SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG,” DOLE said in a press release.

The wage hike comes after moves in the 19th Congress to pass an across-the-board wage increase failed following the House of Representatives and Senates' inability to agree on a unified amount, with the House calling for a P200 hike and the Senate proposing a P100 increase.

In 2024, a 35 peso wage hike was implemented in July, increasing the daily wage for non-agriculture workers to P645 from P610.

However, labor groups say the move is not enough. The TUCP Partylist says that the order does not cover the entire five million minimum wage earners.

The partylist group said it is refiling a bill calling for a legislated wage hike of P200 a daily at the House of Representatives. Velle White/DMS