From September 26, 2026, the minimum wage in Metro Manila is ₱755 per day for non-agriculture workers, and ₱718 per day for agriculture, service and retail establishments with 15 or fewer workers, and manufacturing establishments with fewer than 10 regular workers, under Wage Order No. NCR-28. The rate is the same in every NCR city, including Manila, Quezon City, Makati, Taguig, and Pasig, because one regional wage order covers all of Metro Manila.
What happened to the ₱85 increase (Wage Order NCR-27)?
NCR-27 would have raised the minimum wage by ₱60 on July 25, 2026 and another ₱25 on January 20, 2027. It never took effect. The Pasig Regional Trial Court (Branch 152) issued a status quo ante order on July 24, 2026, followed by a temporary restraining order and a writ of preliminary injunction, in cases filed by employers. The wage board then issued NCR-28, a separate single ₱60 increase, “without prejudicing the pending legal proceedings.” Until September 25, 2026, the NCR-26 rates of ₱695 and ₱658 remained the floor.
NCR Minimum Wage Rates Under Wage Order NCR-28
NCR-28 is a single tranche. There is no second increase scheduled under this order.
| Sector | Until Sept 25, 2026 (NCR-26) | From Sept 26, 2026 (NCR-28) | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Agriculture | ₱695 | ₱755 | +₱60 |
| Agriculture (Plantation and Non-Plantation) | ₱658 | ₱718 | +₱60 |
| Service/Retail (15 workers or fewer) | ₱658 | ₱718 | +₱60 |
| Manufacturing (fewer than 10 regular workers) | ₱658 | ₱718 | +₱60 |
Source: DOLE and NWPC. NCR covers Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City, San Juan, Taguig, Valenzuela, and Pateros. Verify current rates at nwpc.dole.gov.ph before updating payroll.
₱755 in Hourly, Monthly, Overtime, and Holiday Pay
What the NCR-28 minimum works out to for the pay items employers compute most, based on an 8-hour day and the multipliers in DOLE's Handbook on Workers' Statutory Monetary Benefits.
| Pay item | ₱755 rate | ₱718 rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate (daily ÷ 8) | ₱94.38 | ₱89.75 |
| Monthly equivalent, 6-day week (× 313 ÷ 12) | ₱19,692.92 | ₱18,727.83 |
| Monthly equivalent, 5-day week (× 261 ÷ 12) | ₱16,421.25 | ₱15,616.50 |
| Overtime per hour, ordinary day (125%) | ₱117.97 | ₱112.19 |
| Night shift per hour, 10 PM to 6 AM (110%) | ₱103.81 | ₱98.73 |
| Rest day or special day worked, 8 hours (130%) | ₱981.50 | ₱933.40 |
| Overtime per hour, rest day or special day (169%) | ₱159.49 | ₱151.68 |
| Regular holiday worked, 8 hours (200%) | ₱1,510.00 | ₱1,436.00 |
| Overtime per hour, regular holiday (260%) | ₱245.38 | ₱233.35 |
| Regular holiday on a rest day, 8 hours (260%) | ₱1,963.00 | ₱1,866.80 |
Hourly amounts are computed from the unrounded hourly rate (₱94.375 and ₱89.75). Monthly equivalents use DOLE's estimated equivalent monthly rate formula; use the factor that matches your work schedule. Retail and service establishments regularly employing fewer than 10 workers are exempt from regular holiday pay (Labor Code Art. 94). For the full rules and worked examples, see our overtime pay computation guide.
NCR Wage Order Timeline, 2025 to 2026
- July 18, 2025: Wage Order NCR-26 takes effect, setting ₱695 (non-agriculture) and ₱658 (lower category).
- June 23, 2026: The regional wage board issues NCR-27, an ₱85 increase in two tranches (₱60 on July 25, 2026 and ₱25 on January 20, 2027).
- July 24, 2026: The Pasig RTC issues a status quo ante order, later followed by a temporary restraining order and a writ of preliminary injunction. NCR-27 does not take effect on July 25.
- August 28, 2026: The Supreme Court orders the parties to comment on the labor groups' petition to set aside the lower-court orders.
- September 7, 2026: The wage board approves NCR-28, a single ₱60 increase, in a 4-3 vote.
- September 11, 2026: NCR-28 is published.
- September 26, 2026: NCR-28 takes effect: ₱755 and ₱718 per day.
Who Is Covered and Who Is Not
Wage Order No. NCR-28 applies to private-sector workers in the National Capital Region, but the rate that applies depends on how the employer's establishment is classified. The rate follows where the employee works, not where they live.
Non-agriculture rate (₱755): Applies to most Metro Manila employers, including offices, retail and service establishments with more than 15 workers, and manufacturing companies with 10 or more regular employees. If your business does not fall into the lower-rate categories below, this is your applicable floor.
Lower rate (₱718): Applies to agricultural establishments, service and retail establishments employing 15 workers or fewer, and manufacturing establishments regularly employing fewer than 10 workers.
Kasambahay (domestic workers) are not covered by this order. Household helpers in NCR are covered by a separate instrument: Wage Order No. NCR-DW-06, which set the monthly minimum wage for domestic workers at ₱7,800, effective February 7, 2026. If you employ a kasambahay, confirm you are on the correct instrument.
What Payroll Computations Change When the Daily Rate Changes
The increase is to the basic daily wage. Because several other statutory pay items are computed from the daily rate, a wage floor increase cascades through payroll.
- Overtime pay. Ordinary-day overtime is 125% of the hourly rate. Work on a rest day is paid at 130% of the daily rate, and work on a regular holiday at 200%. All are computed from the daily rate, so their peso amounts rise with the base wage.
- Holiday pay. An unworked regular holiday is paid at 100% of the daily rate, a worked regular holiday at 200%, and a worked special non-working day at 130%.
- Night differential. At least 10% of the regular hourly rate for hours worked between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM. The base is now higher for minimum wage earners.
- 13th month pay running total. 13th month pay is 1/12 of total basic salary earned during the calendar year. An employee earning ₱695/day through September 25 and ₱755/day from September 26 has a higher base for the remaining cycles of 2026. Do not apply the new rate to earlier months.
- SSS and PhilHealth contributions. If the increase moves an employee into a higher SSS Monthly Salary Credit bracket or PhilHealth computation base, contributions rise accordingly.
Employer Payroll Checklist for NCR-28
- Confirm your sector classification. Decide whether your establishment falls under the non-agriculture rate (₱755) or the lower rate (₱718) based on your regular employee headcount and industry.
- Update the daily basic wage effective September 26, 2026 for every employee below the new floor. Employees already above it need no change; the wage order sets a floor, not a uniform rate.
- Split cycles that straddle September 26. For a September 16 to 30 cutoff, pay the NCR-26 rate for September 16 to 25 and the NCR-28 rate for September 26 to 30.
- Update overtime, holiday pay, and night differential inputs that use the daily rate. In a system that computes them from the daily rate, updating the base wage is enough. In a spreadsheet, check each formula.
- Adjust the 13th month pay year-to-date tracker to use the new rate from September 26 forward only.
- Review wage distortion. Employees earning just above the old minimum may now earn nearly the same as new minimum wage earners. Article 124 of the Labor Code requires employers to address wage distortion caused by a wage order.
- Keep records and watch the NCR-27 case. As of September 25, 2026, no directive requires retroactive payment for July 25 to September 25, and NCR-27's additional ₱25 is unresolved. Both could change depending on the court outcome.
YAHSHUA HRIS flags minimum wage compliance automatically.
When a wage order takes effect, the system flags employees whose basic pay falls below the applicable floor, recomputes dependent items like overtime and holiday pay from the updated rate, and adjusts the 13th month running total going forward.
See how YAHSHUA handles wage order updatesFrequently Asked Questions
What is the NCR minimum wage in 2026?
From September 26, 2026, the NCR minimum wage is ₱755 per day for non-agriculture workers and ₱718 per day for agriculture, service and retail establishments with 15 or fewer workers, and manufacturing establishments with fewer than 10 regular workers, under Wage Order No. NCR-28. Before September 26, the NCR-26 rates of ₱695 and ₱658 applied.
Is the minimum wage the same in Manila, Quezon City, and Makati?
Yes. One wage order, Wage Order No. NCR-28, sets the minimum wage for all 17 local government units in Metro Manila: Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City, San Juan, Taguig, Valenzuela, and the municipality of Pateros. Non-agriculture workers earn ₱755 per day from September 26, 2026 in every one of them. The rate follows where the employee works, not where they live: a worker who lives in Bulacan but reports to an office in Makati is covered by the NCR rate.
What happened to Wage Order NCR-27 and the ₱85 increase?
NCR-27, issued June 23, 2026, granted ₱85 in two tranches but never took effect. The Pasig Regional Trial Court issued a status quo ante order on July 24, 2026, followed by a temporary restraining order and a writ of preliminary injunction, in cases filed by employers. Labor groups have asked the Supreme Court to set those orders aside. The wage board then issued NCR-28, a separate single ₱60 increase effective September 26, 2026, without prejudice to the pending case.
Will the NCR minimum wage go up by ₱25 in January 2027?
Not under NCR-28, which is a single tranche. The ₱25 January 2027 increase was part of NCR-27, and whether it is ever implemented depends on the outcome of the court cases. As of September 25, 2026, no further NCR increase is scheduled.
Do employers owe back pay for July 25 to September 25, 2026?
As of September 25, 2026, no DOLE directive requires retroactive payment for that period, because NCR-27 was restrained before it took effect. That could change depending on how the courts rule on NCR-27, so keep accurate payroll records for the period.
Does the NCR minimum wage increase apply to all workers?
Wage Order No. NCR-28 applies to private-sector workers in the National Capital Region. Kasambahay (household helpers) are covered by a separate instrument: Wage Order No. NCR-DW-06, which set the monthly minimum wage for domestic workers in NCR at ₱7,800, effective February 7, 2026. Government employees are not covered by regional wage orders.
Does a minimum wage increase affect overtime and holiday pay?
Yes. Overtime pay, holiday pay, and night differential are computed from the daily rate, so their peso amounts rise for workers at or near the minimum. Ordinary-day overtime is 125% of the hourly rate, a worked regular holiday is 200% of the daily rate, and work on a rest day is 130%. Recompute these using the updated daily rate from September 26, 2026.
What happens if an employer does not comply with the NCR minimum wage order?
Non-compliance with a wage order is a violation of the Wage Rationalization Act (RA 6727). DOLE labor inspectors can conduct inspections and issue compliance orders requiring employers to pay the wage differential from the effective date of the order. Continued non-compliance can result in criminal penalties under RA 8188, which amended RA 6727's penalty provisions: a fine of not less than ₱25,000 nor more than ₱100,000, imprisonment of not less than two years nor more than four years, or both, at the court's discretion. RA 8188 also requires the employer to pay double the unpaid wage increase (double indemnity). The responsible officers of the employing company can be held personally liable.
Written by YAHSHUA HRIS Team · Published July 2026 · Updated September 25, 2026
Based on Wage Order No. NCR-28 (approved September 7, 2026, published September 11, 2026, effective September 26, 2026), DOLE and NWPC announcements, and reporting by the Philippine News Agency and The Philippine Star on the NCR-27 injunction and the Supreme Court petition. Status verified as of September 25, 2026. The NCR-27 case is pending, so confirm current rates at nwpc.dole.gov.ph before updating payroll. This article does not constitute legal advice.