Davao Workers to Get Pay Hike Starting March 13, But Full Increase Comes in September

DAVAO CITY  (March 2)  — Thousands of minimum wage earners and domestic workers in the Davao Region will see higher pay starting March 13, following the approval of a new wage order by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

The increase, however, will be rolled out in two tranches — meaning workers will receive the full adjustment only by September 1.

Who Will Benefit?

Under the wage order affirmed by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC):

• Agricultural workers will receive a ₱20 daily increase, raising their minimum wage to ₱525.
• Non-agricultural workers will get a ₱30 daily hike, bringing their minimum wage to ₱540.

This translates to an estimated monthly minimum wage of:

• ₱13,693.75 for agricultural workers
• ₱14,085 for non-agricultural workers

About 66,772 minimum wage earners across the region are expected to benefit.

Meanwhile, domestic workers or “kasambahays” will now receive a uniform ₱6,500 minimum monthly salary across the region.

• Kasambahays in chartered cities and first-class municipalities will receive a ₱500 increase.
• Those in other municipalities will get a bigger ₱1,500 monthly adjustment.

Around 64,111 domestic workers — whether live-in or live-out — stand to benefit.

Relief Amid Rising Costs

The wage hike comes as households continue to grapple with rising prices of fuel, transport, and basic goods. For many families living paycheck to paycheck, even a ₱20 to ₱30 daily increase can mean additional rice on the table or partial relief from utility bills.

DOLE said the adjustment considered “the needs of workers and their families,” alongside employers’ capacity to pay and the region’s overall economic conditions.

Still, because the increase will be implemented in two phases, workers will have to wait until September to feel the full impact of the approved rates.

Addressing Wage Distortions

To prevent pay gaps from widening between rank-and-file workers and those in higher job classifications, DOLE said it is extending technical assistance to enterprises to address potential “wage distortions.”

An estimated 402,968 full-time workers may benefit from adjustments made to maintain salary structures within companies.

The wage order was issued by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in Davao Region and affirmed on February 23 after compliance with legal requirements.

For workers across Davao Region, March 13 marks the start of long-awaited pay relief — but whether the increase will keep pace with rising living costs remains a pressing question for many families.