Minimum wage earners in the National Capital Region (NCR) will receive a P60 daily wage increase starting today, 26 September, following the official publication of Wage Order No. NCR-28 earlier this month.

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-NCR issued the directive on 11 September, setting the new daily minimum wage for non-agricultural workers at P755.

Workers in the agricultural sector, service and retail establishments employing 15 or fewer workers, and manufacturing firms with fewer than 10 employees will see their daily minimum wage rise to P718.

Labor coalition Federation of Free Workers welcomed the implementation of the new wage order but emphasized that the higher rate remains insufficient to offset accumulated living costs.

“There will be a wage increase tomorrow, but yesterday’s bills remain,” FFW president Sonny Matula said. “This new wage order does not erase debt owed for rice, delayed rent, or electricity payments.”

The FFW and other labor unions continue to press a petition before the Supreme Court seeking to reinstate Wage Order No. NCR-27, an earlier directive that granted an P85 daily wage increase.

To recall, implementation of that order was halted after a Pasig City Regional Trial Court issued an injunction requested by some construction firms.

Matula vowed that labor groups will continue their legal challenge before the high court despite the implementation of the new, lower rate.