MANILA, Philippines — January 22, 2026 — Domestic workers or kasambahays in Metro Manila will soon receive a salary increase, as the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB-NCR) approved an ₱800 hike in their monthly minimum wage, raising it from ₱7,000 to ₱7,800. The new rate will take effect on February 7, 2026, following the publication of Wage Order No. NCR-DW-06.

The wage order covers all categories of domestic workers, including general househelp, nannies (yaya), cooks, gardeners, laundry persons, and other household staff. The National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) clarified that in cases where kasambahays are hired through licensed private employment agencies, the prescribed wage increase must be shouldered by the principals or clients. If they fail to comply, the agencies will be held jointly liable.

Officials emphasized that no employers will be exempted from the wage adjustment. The RTWPB explained that the increase was necessary to help kasambahays cope with rising living costs in Metro Manila, particularly food, utilities, and transportation. The adjustment also aligns with the government’s broader efforts to ensure fair compensation and protect vulnerable workers.

Labor groups welcomed the wage hike but noted that the increase, while helpful, may still be insufficient given inflationary pressures. They urged the government to continue reviewing wage levels regularly to ensure that domestic workers receive just compensation. Employers, meanwhile, expressed concerns about the added financial burden but acknowledged the need to comply with the law.

The ₱800 increase marks the sixth wage order for kasambahays in NCR since the passage of the Domestic Workers Act (Republic Act 10361), also known as the “Batas Kasambahay,” which institutionalized minimum wage standards and benefits for household workers.

Is This Enough

An ₱800 raise matters. For kasambahays, it signals recognition and a small cushion against rising food, transport, and utility costs. It shows the law is working, slowly, to value care work that keeps households running.

But Metro Manila prices move faster than wage orders. Rent climbs, groceries spike, and inflation eats gains before they settle. Incremental hikes feel fair on paper yet thin in practice. Relief arrives in steps while living costs sprint ahead.

Dignity in pay requires more than periodic adjustments. If wages always chase prices from behind, stability stays out of reach. Can small increases ever catch up, or do kasambahays need a bolder rethink of what fair pay truly means?