Minimum wage earners and domestic workers in Region VIII (Eastern Visayas) will receive wage increases this December, following the issuance of Wage Orders by Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-VIII (RTWPB-VIII).

Wage Order Nos. RB VIII-25 and RBVIII-DW-06 shall take effect on 08 December 2025, fifteen (15) days after their publication on 22 November 2025. They were reviewed and affirmed by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) on 18 November 2025 and will cover an estimated 114,126 minimum wage earners and 57,081 domestic workers.

The daily minimum wage rates in all sectors will increase by ₱35. Upon implementation of all tranches, this increase will bring the minimum wage to ₱440 for the agriculture sector, cottage and handicraft, and retail/service establishments employing 10 workers and below, equivalent to ₱11,477 per month.

For the non-agriculture sector and retail/service establishments employing 11 workers and above, the minimum wage will increase to ₱470 a day, equivalent to ₱12,259 per month.

About 162,501 full-time wage and salary workers earning above the minimum wage are also expected to indirectly benefit from wage adjustments at the enterprise level in the said region, arising from the correction of wage distortions. Wage distortions occur when the implementation of a mandated wage increase (i.e. wage order) results in the elimination or severe contraction of intentional quantitative differences in wage or salary rates between and among employee groups in an establishment. NWPC Advisory No. 01, Series of 2023 provides guidance to correct possible wage distortions.

Meanwhile, domestic workers or kasambahays in Eastern Visayas will also receive monthly increases of ₱400 for those in chartered cities and first-class municipalities, and ₱300 for those in other municipalities. This will raise the sector’s monthly minimum wage rate in the region to ₱6,400 and ₱5,800, respectively.

The new wage orders align with the continuing directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. for the timely and regular review of regional minimum wage rates to reduce uncertainty, enhance fairness for all stakeholders, and foster a stronger link between productivity and wages.

In deciding the amount of minimum wage increases in the region, RTWPB-VIII balanced the rights of workers to be protected from unduly low pay and of employers to reasonable profits,

as well as the overall development objectives of promoting employment and productivity and preventing inflation.

Retail and service establishments regularly employing not more than ten (10) workers, and enterprises affected by natural calamities and/or human-induced disasters may apply for exemption from the wage increase until 05 February 2026. Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs) with valid Certificates of Authority from the Department of Trade and Industry are not covered by the minimum wage law.

DOLE will undertake a massive information campaign to ensure public awareness and will closely monitor compliance with the wage orders through labor inspections. RTWPB-VIII will also conduct an information campaign to ensure compliance among employers and enterprises. For further clarifications, RTWPB-VIII can be reached through rb8@www.aliflora.vip.