Minimum Wage in the Philippines 2026: Rates by Region

The Philippines has no single minimum wage. The daily rate depends on where the employee works. In some regions, it also depends on the sector, city or municipality class, and number of workers.

Rates checked September 8, 2026. We checked these private-sector daily rates against the NWPC September 2, 2026 national matrix, each NWPC regional page, and the linked wage orders. The figures are a static record. A regional range is only a summary, not a rate that an employer may choose.

Two areas need special care:

• NCR: NWPC says Wage Order NCR-27 awaits final rulings from the Pasig and Navotas Regional Trial Courts. The Supreme Court's August 28, 2026 briefer (PDF) describes the pending cases but gives no final ruling. Ask RTWPB-NCR which rate is enforceable before running payroll.
• Negros Island Region: NWPC's NIR page shows ₱000 as a placeholder and lists no NIR wage order. Do not use ₱000. The Region VI page still lists Negros Occidental and Bacolod. The Region VII page still lists parts of Negros Oriental. Neither page gives a transition rate for Siquijor. Ask RTWPB-NIR which rate and order apply.

2026 minimum wage summary by region

The “current daily rate” column shows the lowest and highest private-sector tiers in force or published on the check date. Use the detailed table to find the row that fits the workplace.

Detailed private-sector daily rates

These figures are daily minimum wages, not monthly salary estimates. To compare the two pay structures, see our guide to daily rates and monthly salaries.

Luzon

Visayas and the NIR transition

Mindanao and BARMM

How a small employer finds the right rate

For a cafe, shop, restaurant, clinic, salon, or similar business, answer these questions in order:

1. Where does the employee work? Use the workplace covered by the order. Do not default to the owner's home address or the head office.
2. Which sector does the order assign? “Retail/service,” “non-agriculture,” and other labels are defined by the applicable order.
3. Does headcount change the tier? Regions I, IV-A, VI, VIII, IX, and X—and NCR's published lower tier—use establishment-size distinctions in at least one category.
4. Which tranche covers the work date? Use the rate in force on the dates worked. Do not apply a December increase to September work. Once a tranche takes effect, stop using the old rate.
5. Is there an approved exemption or statutory non-coverage? Do not assume that being small creates an exemption.

Record the wage order, category, work location, and start date in the payroll setup. Use the payroll checklist for every cutoff when a wage change falls within a pay period.

Exemptions and BMBE status are not automatic

The NWPC latest-orders matrix lists deadlines for exemption applications under private-sector orders. Each order sets its own eligibility and document rules. Filing does not mean the board has granted an exemption. Read the order and the regional board's forms.

The BMBE law exempts a qualified Barangay Micro Business Enterprise from minimum-wage coverage while it holds a valid Certificate of Authority. The official DTI BMBE portal explains the exemption and the benefits that employees retain. Read the current rules. Ask the regional wage board or Philippine labor counsel before paying less than a table rate.

Kasambahay wages use a separate monthly table

This guide covers daily minimum wages for employees of private establishments. It does not list kasambahay rates. NWPC publishes separate domestic-worker orders with monthly minimum wages. Do not use a monthly kasambahay rate as the daily rate for a cafe or shop employee.

Updating the rate in payroll

Once you have confirmed the correct row, record the new rate and start date before running payroll. Recheck overtime, holiday, rest-day, night-work, and leave calculations that use the daily or hourly rate. See the guides to overtime pay and holiday pay.

After you identify the lawful rate, Timekeep can keep the rate, attendance records, and payroll calculations in one workflow. It does not decide which regional tier applies to your business. Read the order first, then run payroll in Timekeep with the rate you confirmed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there one national minimum wage in the Philippines?

No. Regional wage boards set different daily rates. Some orders also vary by location, sector, or establishment size. Match the workplace and business category to the correct row in the wage order. Do not treat a regional range as one rate.

What is the NCR minimum wage in 2026?

Wage Order NCR-27 states rates of ₱755 for non-agriculture and ₱718 for the lower covered tier from July 25, 2026. However, NWPC says court cases still affect implementation. The previous NCR-26 rates were ₱695 and ₱658. Ask RTWPB-NCR which rate is enforceable before running payroll.

Which minimum wage applies to a small shop or restaurant?

It depends on the workplace and wage order. Some regions have a separate tier for retail or service businesses below a set number of workers. Others use the non-agriculture rate. Count workers under the order's rules and confirm the category with the regional wage board.

Do these daily minimum wages apply to kasambahays?

No. The rates in this guide are for private-sector establishments. Kasambahays are covered by separate regional domestic-worker wage orders that set monthly minimum wages.

What minimum wage applies in the Negros Island Region?

NWPC's NIR page had not posted an NIR wage order or rate as of September 8, 2026. Its Region VI page still lists Negros Occidental and Bacolod. Its Region VII page still lists parts of Negros Oriental. Neither page gives a transition rate for Siquijor. Ask RTWPB-NIR which rate and order apply before setting pay anywhere in NIR.

Does a future wage tranche apply before its stated date?

No. Use the rate in force on the dates worked. A later tranche starts on its stated date unless an order, appeal, injunction, exemption, or later issuance changes its implementation.

Official sources

• NWPC: Summary of Current Regional Daily Minimum Wage Rates, September 2, 2026
• NWPC: Latest Wage Orders Issued by the Regional Boards, July 30, 2026
• NWPC: regional daily minimum wage pages and latest wage-order downloads
• NWPC: Negros Island Region transition page
• NWPC: NCR matrix and litigation notice
• Supreme Court of the Philippines: August 28, 2026 press briefer on NCR-27 proceedings (PDF)
• DOLE Bureau of Working Conditions: Labor Code of the Philippines

This article gives general information, not legal, tax, or accounting advice. Coverage can depend on the employee's workplace, sector, establishment size, employment facts, approved exemptions, and later orders or court action. Verify the current order with NWPC, the relevant regional wage board, DOLE, or a qualified Philippine adviser before changing pay.