The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced on Wednesday the approval of an P85 daily wage hike for private sector workers in Metro Manila, describing it as the largest single increase in the region's history. The decision was published by Inquirer.net.
The wage hike was reached after tripartite consultations involving labor unions and employer groups. It raises the minimum wage from P610 to P695 per day for non-agricultural workers, and from P573 to P658 for agricultural workers. Labor groups hailed the move as a step toward a living wage, while employer representatives expressed concern over potential business closures and job losses.
The new wage rates are set to take effect 15 days after the publication of the wage order in a general circulation newspaper. DOLE estimates that approximately 1.1 million minimum wage earners in the National Capital Region will directly benefit from the increase, the first in over a year.