DOLE's Tolentino says P85 NCR wage hike to raise other wage-related benefits 

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Francis Tolentino said Thursday the P85 increase in daily wages for workers in the National Capital Region (NCR) will not only raise the daily take-home pay of minimum wage earners but will also hike several wage-related monetary benefits mandated under Philippine labor laws.

“Ang pangkasalukuyan [na] kinikita nila ay P18,127. ‘Yung nagtatrabaho ng anim na araw, halimbawa po security guard, pagdating po ng July 19, ito po ay magiging P19,692. Pagdating po ng January 20, 2027, ito po ay magiging P20,345. Pero hindi lang po ‘yan. Tataas din po ang inyong overtime pay at night shift differential. Tataas din po ang iba ninyong benepisyo. Halimbawa po, nagka-holiday, doble po iyon. So, may mga ripple effects po ito sa ilang benepisyo na mararamdaman po at makakatulong sa ating manggagawa sa Metro Manila,” Tolentino said in a statement.

(Their current earnings are P18,127. For those who work six days a week—for example, a security guard—by July 19, this will become P19,692. By January 20, 2027, it will become P20,345. But that's not all. Your overtime pay and night shift differential will also increase. Your other benefits will go up too. For instance, if there is a holiday, that is doubled. So, this will have ripple effects on several benefits that will be felt by and will help our workers in Metro Manila.)

The Labor chief said that with the implementation of the new minimum wage, workers covered by the wage order may also receive increases in monetary benefits that are computed based on the applicable basic wage.

These include holiday pay, overtime pay, premium pay for work on rest days and special days, night shift differential, service incentive leave pay, 13th-month pay, separation pay, retirement pay, and other wage-related benefits provided under existing labor laws and regulations.

Tolentino also assured workers of ongoing wage assessments outside NCR, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to review and conduct public consultations within 60 days prior to the anniversary dates of their latest wage orders.

The DOLE chief urged employers in the NCR to comply with the new wage order within the prescribed period and to ensure the accurate computation of all wage-related benefits.

Tolentino said the wage hike reflects the government's continuing commitment to protecting workers' welfare while promoting balanced and sustainable economic growth as it recognizes the need to help workers cope with rising living costs while ensuring that businesses remain productive and competitive. — RSJ, GMA News