Kasambahays in NCR Receive P800 Salary Increase in 2026

(SPOT.ph) A wage increase is coming for kasambahays in the city. Starting February 7, 2026, the monthly minimum pay for domestic workers in Metro Manila will increase by P800, which means the old P7,000 will now be P7,800.

Under Wage Order No. NCR-DW-06, the increase applies across all cities in the National Capital Region—including Quezon City, Makati, Manila, Taguig, San Juan, Pasay, and others—as well as the municipality of Pateros.

This adjustment is specific to household helpers or kasambahay—the cooks, caregivers, gardeners, and househelpers who work in private homes, regardless if they're stay-in or not. Those not covered by the increase include service providers, family drivers, and individuals who work only occasionally.

Also read: The SPOT.ph Guide to the Kasambahay Act: Protecting the Rights of Domestic Workers in the Philippines

The reason local domestic workers have their own wage category goes back to how Philippine labor law treats household service. The Domestic Workers Act or Republic Act No. 10361 established a distinct set of standards for domestic work, including a monthly minimum wage, rest periods, employment contracts, and benefits like social insurance coverage and thirteenth-month pay. The goal is to make sure household workers are protected in a work setup that’s harder to regulate than regular workplaces.

If the pay isn’t adjusted by February, kasambahays can report this to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) through its regional office in the NCR. Complaints are usually filed with the DOLE–NCR or the nearest field office, where labor officers handle kasambahay cases separately from regular workplace disputes.

If filing in person isn’t possible, complaints can also be submitted through the DOLE Hotline 1349 from Mondays to Fridays, 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. You can also send a direct message to the DOLE Facebook Page or email hotline1349@dole.gov.ph with your full name, address, contact number, and concern.

Under the Domestic Workers Act, employers who fail to comply with the minimum wage may be ordered to pay wage differentials, with penalties possible in cases of continued or repeated violations.

Also read: How to Budget P1,000, P500, P100 for Food