A total of 150,484 minimum wage earners across three (3) regions are expected to directly benefit from the wage increases after the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) affirmed the wage orders submitted by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) in Cordillera Administrative Region, Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas.

About 521,604 full-time wage and salary workers earning above the minimum wage may also indirectly benefit as a result of upward adjustments at the enterprise level arising from wage distortion corrections.

The three RTWPBs have also issued wage orders for the kasambahays. The new wage orders are expected to benefit around 162,970 domestic workers – about 21% (34,111) are on live-in arrangements.

As of date, twelve RTWPBs have issued their respective wage orders, out of which, six were initiated motu proprio.

RTWPB – V

The RTWPB V (Bicol Region), by virtue of a petition, issued Wage Order No. RBV-21 on 23 October 2023, providing a ₱30 increase for all minimum wage workers in private establishments in the region. This brings the daily minimum wage in the region to ₱395.

The Regional Board has likewise issued, motu proprio, Wage Order No. RBV-DW-03 granting a monthly increase of ₱1,000 for kasambahays, increasing the monthly minimum wage rate of domestic workers in the region to ₱5,000.

The wage orders will be published on 15 November 2023 and shall take effect on 01 December 2023.

RTWPB – VIII

RTWPB VIII (Eastern Visayas) motu proprio issued Wage Order No. RB VIII-23 on 06 November 2023 granting a ₱30 wage increase in the daily minimum wage. The new minimum wage rate in the region will be ₱405 for the non-agriculture sector and retail or service establishments employing 11 workers and above. Meanwhile, workers in the cottage and handicraft industry, agriculture sector, and retail or service establishments employing 10 workers and below will be receiving ₱375.

RTWPB VIII also issued Wage Order No. RB VIII-DW-04, granting a monthly increase of ₱500, bringing the monthly wage rate of domestic workers in the region to ₱5,500 in chartered cities and first-class municipalities, and ₱5,000 in other municipalities in the region.

The wage orders were published on 14 November 2023 and shall take effect on 30 November 2023.

RTWPB – CAR  

The RTWPB in Cordillera Administrative Region decided to motu proprio issue Wage Order No. CAR-22 on 06 November 2023 granting a ₱30 increase in the daily minimum wage.  The new daily minimum wage rate in the region will be ₱430 and shall apply to all minimum wage earners in the private sector within the region, regardless of their position, designation, or status and irrespective of the method by which their wages are paid.

The Regional Board has also motu proprio issued Wage Order No. RB-CAR-DW-05 increasing the monthly minimum wage of kasambahays by ₱400. Domestic workers in the region will now receive a monthly rate of ₱4,900.

The wage orders will be published on 19 November 2023 and shall take effect after 15 days or on 05 December 2023.

The increases, which considered the various wage determination criteria provided under Republic Act No. 6727 or the Wage Rationalization Act, either resulted from the motu proprio act of the Board or petitions filed by labor groups seeking an increase in the daily minimum wage due to escalating prices of basic goods and commodities. Each Board, comprised of representatives from the government, management, and labor sectors, conducted public hearings and wage deliberations.

As in any wage order, and as provided for in the NWPC Omnibus Rules on Minimum Wage Determination, retail/service establishments regularly employing not more than ten (10) workers, and enterprises affected by natural calamities and/or human-induced disasters may apply to the RTWPB for exemption from the wage increase. Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs) are not covered by the minimum wage law pursuant to Republic Act No. 9178 [2002].

The RTWPBs shall undertake information campaigns to ensure compliance and to provide assistance to enterprises in correcting possible wage distortions. For exemption applications and further clarifications on the wage order, the RTWPBs may also be reached through the following email addresses:

The last wage orders for workers in private establishments and domestic workers in the three regions became effective in June 2022.