DOLE OKs P85 wage hike for Metro Manila workers

Around 1.1 million minimum wage earners in Metro Manila are set to receive a P85 daily increase in two tranches through January 2027, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced Tuesday.

According to Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino, the first tranche of the increase at P60 will take place on July 19, 2026, while the remaining P25 will be in effect on January 20, 2027.

This means that non-agricultural workers earning P695 per day will have their wages increased to P780, while agricultural workers will have their wages increased to P743 from P685.

“Marami pong basehan. ‘Yung inflation, ‘yung pagtaas ng presyo ng kuryente, ‘yung pagtaas ng bilihin, at ‘yung kakayahan ng mga manggagawa natin na magkaroon ng isang disenteng pamumuhay dito sa Metro Manila,” Tolentino said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(There were many bases — inflation, rising electricity prices, the increasing cost of goods, and the ability of workers to have a decent standard of living in Metro Manila.)

𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗞𝗔𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗔𝗔𝗦 𝗡𝗔 𝗗𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗪𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗛𝗜𝗞𝗘 𝗦𝗔 𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗥𝗢 𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗟𝗔, 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗠𝗗𝗔𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗦𝗔 𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗕𝗔𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗘𝗞𝗧𝗢𝗥

Makatatanggap ng pinakamataas na daily wage hike sa kasaysayan ang mga manggagawa sa pribadong sektor sa Metro Manila.

Ayon… pic.twitter.com/WcwQq1bNCI

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) June 30, 2026

The wage hike covers all workers who earn minimum wage, which Tolentino said could also bring higher earnings to some 1.9 million workers through wage adjustments.

Tolentino said consultations are also ongoing for other areas, such as in Region III or Central Luzon and Region VII or Central Visayas.

In a separate statement, labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno said the recent increase is not enough for the cost of living in Metro Manila.

“Lubhang hindi sapat sa kumpara sa ilang ulit na pagtaas ng presyo ng langis, singil sa kuryente, at iba pang gastusin. Itataas lamang ng P85 dagdag-sahod ang minimum sa NCR mula sa P695 tungong P780 - malayo sa P1305 na halagang nakakabuhay,” it said.

“Tingi-tingi itong ibibigay sa mga manggagawa. At higit na maliit ang saklaw nitong sa NCR lamang, habang milyun-milyong manggagawa sa buong bansa ang apektado ng krisis na hindi tinutugunan ng gubyerno,” it added.

(The increase is insufficient compared with the repeated increases in fuel prices, electricity rates, and other expenses. The P85 wage hike will only raise the minimum wage in NCR from P695 to P780, which remains far below the P1,305 living wage.

The increase will be given to workers in increments. It also has a very limited scope, covering only NCR, while millions of workers across the country are affected by the crisis that the government has yet to address.)

Moving forward, KMU said it will continue to push for a nationwide daily wage of P1,200.—AOL, GMA News