share on
More than 1.3mn minimum wage earners, including kasambahays, will benefit from new wage orders issued by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards in Regions III and XII.
Minimum wage earners in Central Luzon (Region III) and Soccsksargen (Region XII) are set to receive wage increases beginning 30 October and 2 November 2025. The changes follow the issuance of new wage orders by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs).
According to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the approved daily wage increases range from ₱50 to ₱80 in Central Luzon and ₱30 to ₱33 in Soccsksargen. The adjustments are expected to benefit about 1,193,254 minimum wage earners across the two regions.
Domestic workers or kasambahays (domestic workers) are also included in the adjustments. Those in Central Luzon will receive a ₱500 monthly increase, while those in Soccsksargen will see an increase of ₱1,000 to ₱1,500. In total, about 153,450 domestic workers will benefit from these changes.
About 1,429,737 full-time wage and salary workers earning above the minimum wage are also expected to indirectly benefit from pay adjustments at the enterprise level due to the correction of wage distortions. The National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) defines wage distortions as the elimination or narrowing of pay differences between employee groups when a mandated wage increase takes effect.
Wage Order Nos. RBIII-26 and RBIII-DW-05 for Central Luzon and Wage Order Nos. RB XII-25 and RB XII-DW-05 for Soccsksargen were affirmed by the NWPC on 9 October 2025. They will take effect on 30 October and 2 November respectively, following their publication earlier last month.
The new wage orders are part of Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr, President’s directive to ensure regular reviews of regional minimum wages. The goal is to promote fair pay, reduce uncertainty, and better connect wages with productivity levels.
Wage hike in Central Luzon
In Central Luzon, the daily minimum wage for the non-agriculture sector will increase by ₱50 in Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales, and by ₱60 in Aurora. Once fully implemented, the daily rates will range from ₱560 to ₱600, or ₱14,607 to ₱15,650 per month.
For the agriculture sector, the increase will range from ₱50 to ₱60 across the same provinces, bringing daily wages to between ₱545 and ₱570, or ₱14,215 to ₱14,868 per month.
In the retail and service sectors, pay will rise by ₱50 in Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales, and by ₱80 in Aurora. This will result in a new range of ₱515 to ₱590 daily, or ₱13,433 to ₱15,389 per month.
Around 1.2mn minimum wage earners in Central Luzon will benefit directly from the increases, while about 1.3mn full-time workers earning above the minimum wage may also experience indirect benefits due to wage adjustments.
Kasambahays in Central Luzon will receive a ₱500 increase in their monthly pay, bringing the new minimum rate to ₱6,500. This will benefit around 126,762 domestic workers, of whom about 9% live in with their employers.
Wage hike in Soccsksargen
In Soccsksargen, the daily minimum wage for the non-agriculture and retail and service sectors will increase by ₱30, bringing the rate to ₱460 a day, or ₱11,998 per month.
For the agriculture sector, the increase will be ₱33, bringing the new rate to ₱443 a day, or ₱11,555 per month.
These adjustments will benefit around 21,000 minimum wage earners in the region, with an additional 144,000 full-time workers indirectly affected by enterprise-level adjustments.
For kasambahays, the RTWPB XII has simplified the wage structure by setting a single monthly minimum rate across the region. Domestic workers will now receive ₱6,000 per month, reflecting increases of ₱1,000 in cities and first-class municipalities, and ₱1,500 in other municipalities. This will benefit about 26,688 kasambahays, of whom 44% are live-in.
In deciding the new rates, both RTWPBs considered the need to balance fair pay for workers and reasonable profits for employers. The boards also aimed to promote employment and productivity while managing inflation risks.
Retail and service establishments employing no more than ten workers and enterprises affected by natural or human-induced disasters may apply for exemption from the wage increase. Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs) with valid Certificates of Authority from the Department of Trade and Industry remain exempt under the minimum wage law.
DOLE will conduct information campaigns to ensure public awareness of the wage adjustments and will monitor compliance through labour inspections. RTWPBs III and XII will also carry out regional information drives to guide employers and enterprises in implementing the new wage orders.
ALSO READ: Over 7,600 in-house security officers in Singapore to benefit from progressive wage model boost
Lead image / Department of Labor Employment (DOLE) Facebook
share on
