By Ferdinand Patinio

JOB HUNTING. Job seekers flock to the Labor Day job fair held at Manila Science High School on Thursday (May 1, 2025), as part of the 123rd Labor Day celebration. The event, organized by DOLE-NCR’s Manila Field Office in partnership with the Public Employment Service Office, features 54 local employers offering 9,115 job opportunities in sectors such as BPO, retail, construction, manufacturing, and food service. (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)

MANILA  – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced Thursday that consultations on a possible wage hike for minimum wage earners in Metro Manila will begin mid-May.

DOLE-National Capital Region (NCR) Director Sarah Buena Mirasol said preparations are underway for discussions between labor and employer groups regarding a potential salary adjustment for private-sector workers.

“Consultations between workers and employers will begin in May, followed by a public hearing in June,” Mirasol said on the sidelines of the Labor Day job fair at SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

Should wage deliberations proceed smoothly and lead to a decision, Mirasol said a new wage order could be issued as early as July.

The last wage hike in the NCR took effect on July 17, 2024, setting the current minimum wage at PHP645. (PNA)