Marilyn Cahatol

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) the country’s unemployment rate for June 2024 fell to 3.1 percent with 50.3 million employed individuals, albeit underemployment, or those not having enough paid work, rose by 12.1 percent or equivalent to 6.08 million Filipinos. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

PH-ECONOMY

Raine Musñgi

<div><br/></div><p>MANILA — As pressure mounts for a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/1/-wage-hike-bills-filed-anew-in-20th-congress-1935">P200 legislated wage hike</a>, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma insisted that the Philippines’ current minimum wage levels are already among the highest in Southeast Asia. </p><p>He expects that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is more likely to highlight jobs growth in his upcoming 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28 than support sweeping across-the-board increases.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/6/5/marcos-to-look-into-economic-implications-of-proposed-p200-wage-hike-palace-1308">Marcos to look into economic implications of proposed P200 wage hike: Palace</a></div><p>“Actually, pag tinignan mo tayo sa ASEAN, mataas na po ang ating minimum [wage],” Laguesma said on DZMM’s Balitapatan.</p><p>(Actually, if you compare us within ASEAN, our minimum wage is already high.)</p><p>&quot;Dapat competitive tayo—hindi sa baba ng sweldo, kundi sa galing ng manggagawa.”</p><p>(We should be competitive not by lowering wages, but by having excellent workers.)</p><div><strong>DOLE: MINIMUM WAGE IS ENTRY-LEVEL PROTECTION, NOT UNIVERSAL PAY</strong></div><p>On July 18, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board approved a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/6/30/ncr-wage-board-approves-p50-minimum-wage-hike-1205">₱50 increase</a> in Metro Manila’s minimum wage, raising it from P645 to P695/day. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/15/more-wage-hikes-seen-in-regions-dole-0922">More wage hikes seen in regions - DOLE</a></div><p>This is the highest in the country and among the highest in ASEAN, above Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.</p><p>“Ang minimum po ay floor wage. Kung skilled ka, bakit ka tatanggap ng minimum wage?” </p><p>(The minimum is a floor wage. If you’re skilled, why would you settle for minimum wage?)</p><p>The new rate is estimated to benefit 1.2 million workers and translate to about P1,100 to P1,300 more per month, depending on the number of working days.</p><p>Still, labor groups said it is not enough. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/6/30/what-can-the-p50-wage-hike-buy-1908">What can the P50 wage hike buy?</a></div><p>Lawmakers and labor groups like the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/6/5/tucp-to-marcos-jr-let-p200-pay-hike-be-your-legacy-1200">T</a><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/6/5/tucp-to-marcos-jr-let-p200-pay-hike-be-your-legacy-1200">rade Union Congress of the Philippines </a>(TUCP) and Akbayan are demanding a P200 legislated increase, citing how regional wage boards can’t keep pace with soaring living costs. </p><p>But Laguesma explained that more than 85 percent of all wage adjustments since 1990 have been initiated voluntarily by these boards—not just in response to petitions.</p><p>“We are always walking a tightrope—protecting workers while keeping businesses afloat.”</p><div><strong>WHAT TO EXPECT FROM MARCOS&#x27; 4TH SONA</strong></div><p>Laguesma said President Marcos is expected to highlight labor market improvements rather than direct wage interventions in the upcoming SONA.</p><p>“May pagbuti sa kalagayan ng hanapbuhay… at nakita ng Pangulo ang kahalagahan ng training-to-employment connection.” </p><p>(There has been improvement in employment… and the President sees how important it is to link training directly to jobs.)</p><p>According to the May 2025 Labor Force Survey by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the employment rate rose to 96.1%, up from 95.9% in May 2024. </p><p>Unemployment dropped to <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/8/fewer-filipinos-jobless-underemployed-in-may-0931">3.9%</a>, translating to 1.42 million more Filipinos working year-on-year.</p><p>TESDA, now under DOLE again, has played a key role as its job-skills programs yielded a 93% job absorption rate.</p><p>“Nag-aaral pa lang, may trabaho na sila… pinupuhunanan na sila pati sa language.” </p><p>(Even before they graduate, they already have jobs… foreign employers are even investing in their language skills.)</p><div><strong>P200 VS MSME SURVIVAL: THE TUG-OF-WAR</strong></div><p>While progressive groups argue that a national P200 hike is the only meaningful response to inflation, employer groups caution it could cripple micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which employ over 84 percent of Filipino workers. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/1/marcos-to-review-if-small-employers-can-shoulder-new-legislated-wage-hike-1747">Marcos to review if small employers can shoulder new legislated wage hike</a></div><p>Laguesma reaffirmed DOLE’s stance: region-based wage decisions, grounded in local consultations, are more sustainable.</p><p>“Ang SONA ng Pangulo? Employment gains, TESDA jobs link — hindi puro ayuda.” </p><p>(The President’s SONA? It will likely focus on job gains and training-to-employment results — not just handouts.)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/4/employees-can-report-employers-not-complying-with-wage-hike-nwpc-1713">Employees can report employers not complying with wage hike — NWPC</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fa3a1fprFeE?si=_irFCdZPXfdAmJHy" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>As pressure mounts for a P200 legislated wage hike, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma insisted that the Philippines’ current minimum wage levels are already among the highest in Southeast Asia.</p>

As pressure mounts for a P200 legislated wage hike, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma insisted that the Philippines’ current minimum wage levels are already among the highest in Southeast Asia.

PH minimum wage among highest in Asia; DOLE pushes back on P200 SONA clamor

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PH minimum wage among highest in Asia; DOLE pushes back on P200 SONA clamor

Raine Musñgi,

ABS-CBN News Channel

Published Jul 23, 2025 08:47 PM PHT

Read More:

Employment

Minimum wage

Wage hike

Marcos Jr.

SONA

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