The minimum monthly wage for domestic workers in Metro Manila will rise by ₱800 beginning February 7, 2026, after the National Capital Region’s wage board approved a long-awaited adjustment aimed at easing the pressure of rising living costs in the Philippine capital.
The increase, formalised through Wage Order No. NCR-DW-06, raises the minimum wage for kasambahays—from nannies and cooks to gardeners and laundry workers—from ₱7,000 to ₱7,800 a month. The order was issued on January 15 and publicly announced days later by labour authorities.
A modest raise amid persistent inflation
The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board for the National Capital Region said the decision followed a review of economic conditions, household capacity to pay, and the needs of domestic workers and their families.
In practical terms, the increase amounts to roughly an 11.4 per cent pay rise, or about ₱26 more per day—a modest gain, but one labour officials believe could help offset higher prices for food, utilities and transport in Metro Manila.
The National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) said the adjustment was intended “to help improve the living conditions of domestic workers amid the continued rise in the prices of basic goods and services,” while urging employers to comply fully with the new rates.
Who is covered—and who is not
The wage hike applies to all domestic workers employed in Metro Manila, whether hired directly by households or through licensed private employment agencies.
Covered workers include:
- General househelpers, whether live-in or live-out
- Nannies and caregivers
- Cooks
- Gardeners
- Laundry workers
- Others performing domestic work on a regular occupational basis
The order explicitly excludes family drivers, service providers, and individuals who perform domestic work only on an occasional or sporadic basis.
No exemptions, strict liability rules
Labour authorities stressed that no employers are exempt from the new minimum wage. All existing employment contracts are automatically deemed amended to reflect the higher rate.
For households that hire domestic workers through licensed private employment agencies, the wage order places the cost squarely on the household principals or clients. The order states that if clients fail to pay the prescribed wage, employment agencies will be held jointly and severally liable, tightening enforcement and limiting opportunities to sidestep compliance.
Higher costs for households
While the wage hike offers welcome relief to workers, it also translates into higher monthly expenses for Metro Manila households employing domestic help. Some families may be forced to revisit household budgets, renegotiate working arrangements, or reconsider whether to hire workers directly or through agencies.
Labour officials argue the balance is necessary, framing the increase as a corrective measure rather than a windfall—one that recognises the essential role domestic workers play in keeping urban households running.
Limited to Metro Manila
The adjustment applies only to the National Capital Region. Domestic workers in other parts of the Philippines remain subject to separate wage orders issued by their respective regional wage boards.
The new rate takes effect 15 days after publication of the order—on February 7—giving employers little leeway to delay compliance.
For Metro Manila’s kasambahays, many of whom work long hours behind closed doors, the ₱800 increase is unlikely to be transformative. But in a city where the cost of living continues to climb, it stands as a formal acknowledgment that their labour, often invisible, must at least keep pace with basic survival.
