The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) acknowledges the December 2025 OCTA Research Tugon ng Masa survey results, which showed higher wages and salaries as top national concern of Filipinos.

The DOLE is continuously monitoring wage and income trends and is sensitive to workers’ sentiment for higher wages and income. In the last several years, surveys like OCTA have always placed wages among the top three concerns of Filipinos. The direct contribution of DOLE in addressing this concern is through the annual minimum wage adjustments of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) for lower paid workers.

As of said survey time, the RTWPBs have issued 14 Wage Orders granting increases of ₱20 to ₱100 per day to minimum wage earners in the private sector. Davao and Bicol regions are also set to commence their wage determination process this January and February based on well-established timelines. Meanwhile, 11 Wage Orders were also issued granting ₱300 to ₱2,000 increase to the monthly minimum wage of kasambahays or domestic workers. This January, the RTWPB-NCR issued a Wage Order granting an ₱800-increase to the monthly minimum wage of kasambahays in the region which will become effective on 07 February 2026. The RTWPBs remain guided by the policy of regular, moderate, and predictable wage adjustments that are evidence-based and consultative, to benefit both workers and employers.

Apart from the annual minimum wage adjustments, the DOLE implements various programs that help workers earn higher income. In the area of productivity, the DOLE through the National Wages and Productivity Commission provides free training programs and technical assistance to enterprises through the Productivity Toolbox to boost their competitiveness. This is complemented by the implementation of the Adjustment Measures Program which provides financial support to enterprises for process improvement, digitalization, and skills enhancement. The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority likewise offers various certification programs that enhance workers’ skills and employability while the Bureau of Labor Relations, National Conciliation and Mediation Board, and the National Labor Relations Commission promote sound labor-management relations and collective bargaining which enable equitable wage negotiations, improved productivity, and higher employee retention. These are among the programs that can be availed through the Regional Offices of DOLE and its attached agencies. Information on these programs can be accessed through the official DOLE website (www.dole.gov.ph) and verified Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/laborandemploymentph) and those of its attached agencies.

The DOLE shall continue to closely monitor the country’s socio-economic conditions and proactively implement policies and programs that strengthen labor market institutions, promote fair and productive employment, and ensure regulatory stability—thereby fostering a healthy labor environment that encourages investment, supports enterprise growth, and sustains long-term economic development.