MANILA — The Department of Labor and Employment said minimum wage earners in the National Capital Region should get bigger paychecks on the 30th of September or the next payday, as the P60 increase takes effect.
Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino said the wage hike should also be reflected in the 13th month pay.
An estimated 1.1 million minimum wage earners in the NCR are expected to benefit from the said wage hike that was implemented last Sept. 26, 2026.
“Effective yan noong Sabado, September 26 - Sabado, so, itong payslip dapat ngayon kung yung mga HR natin ay nakahabol, dapat indicated na yung nung Sabado, Lunes, Martes hanggang Miyerkules sa inyong payslip sa NCR, yung additional," he said.
"Per month niyan ay P1,560. Baka sabihin ng iba maliit, pero pag kinompute natin ’yan, lalo na sa mga security guard, yung night shift differential, kasama ’yon, yung mga nag-o-overtime, kasama ’yon,” Tolentino told DZMM.
Some workers are thankful for the increase but also pointed out that the amount could have been larger, as fare hikes and other price increases will also raise the cost of living.
”Yung bus po na sinasakyan ko, araw-araw P28 ‘tas ang singil kanina 33 - P5 din ang taas, ‘tas jeep pa po,” coffee shop worker Althea Jerica Baiño told ABS-CBN News
Meanwhile, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) welcomes the P60/day wage increase but said workers should push for the implementation of Wage Order No. 27 that was supposed to give them an P85 daily rate increase.
“Siyempre tinatanggap yan ng mga manggagawa natin sa Metro Manila, pero dapat walang sukuan doon sa Wage Order 27 na first tranche P60 - dapat mula pa July 25 at may sure ball na P25 pagdating ng January 20…tumataginting na mahigit P3,000 na po yung backpay na nakukuha ng ating mga manggagawa,” said TUCP spokesperson Carlos Oñate.
Tolentino said the court process is long, but DOLE had to respect the court and that it has to find ways to support workers in accordance with the Labor Code of the Philippines.