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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Labor board allows wage relief option for NCR micro firms

Labor board allows wage relief option for NCR micro firms

Published Jul 14, 2025 01:59 pm

At A Glance

  • Microenterprises in Metro Manila may seek exemption from the new wage hike.
  • Applications must be filed with RTWPB-NCR by September 16.
  • Eligible firms include small retail, service, and calamity-affected enterprises.
  • Exemption is covered under Wage Order No. NCR-25, issued in June.
Microenterprises in Metro Manila may apply for exemption from the new minimum wage hike, subject to conditions set by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board–National Capital Region (RTWPB-NCR), an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
In an advisory, the DOLE said applications for exemption, along with complete supporting documents, must be submitted to the wage board on or before September 16.
“Retail and service establishments with no more than 10 regular employees, as well as enterprises affected by natural or man-made calamities, may qualify for exemption under Wage Order No. NCR-25,” the advisory read.
The wage order, issued in June, mandates a ₱50 daily increase in the minimum wage for workers in the National Capital Region.
This adjustment raises the rate to ₱695 for non-agricultural workers, and ₱658 for those in agriculture, retail and service establishments with 15 or fewer employees, and small manufacturing firms with fewer than 10 workers.
The advisory seeks to guide microenterprises that may be unable to immediately comply with the wage adjustment due to financial constraints or operational setbacks.
While the increase aims to enhance the purchasing power of minimum wage earners, DOLE emphasized that the exemption mechanism was introduced to cushion the impact on vulnerable small businesses without compromising labor standards.

Related Tags

DOLE minimum wage Wage Order No. NCR-25 Microenterprises wage exemption
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