Eastern Visayas has approved a P35 wage hike for minimum wage earners in the private sector. Domestic workers will also see a P300–P400 increase in their monthly salaries under the new wage order effective December 2025.
Implementation in Two Tranches
The P35 increase for private sector workers will be applied in two phases: P17 starting December 8, 2025, and the remaining P18 on June 1, 2026. This staggered approach allows businesses to adjust gradually to the new wage requirements.
Economic Factors Behind the Raise
The wage increase was implemented without a formal petition from the labor sector, taking into account the region’s socio-economic situation. Factors considered included recent inflation rates, the 2023 poverty threshold, a 6.2% economic growth rate, and the predominance of micro-businesses, which make up 93.5% of establishments in the region.
New Minimum Daily Wages
Retail and service workers in establishments with more than 10 employees will see their daily minimum wage rise from P435 to P452 in December and P470 by June 2026. Smaller businesses with 10 or fewer employees will pay P422 in December and P440 in June, up from the current P405 per day.
Domestic Workers’ Salary Adjustments
Kasambahay in chartered cities and first-class municipalities will earn at least P6,400 per month, while those in other municipalities will receive a minimum of P5,800 monthly starting December 8, 2025. These adjustments reflect increases of P300 to P400 from existing salaries.
