Central Visayas Minimum Wage Rises ₱42 on October 14, 2026 (Wage Order ROVII-27)
From October 14, 2026, the daily minimum wage for private-sector workers in Central Visayas (Region VII) goes up by ₱42. Under Wage Order No. ROVII-27, it becomes ₱582 in Class A areas (the expanded Metro Cebu area) and ₱542 in Class B areas (the rest of the region). A separate order, Wage Order No. ROVII-DW-06, raises the monthly minimum for kasambahay in the region to ₱7,500 on the same date; see our Central Visayas kasambahay wage update for coverage and enforcement steps.
The National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) says the order covers about 450,185 minimum wage earners. It was published on September 28, 2026 and takes effect 15 days later.
Key facts at a glance
| Item | Before Oct 14, 2026 | From Oct 14, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Class A daily minimum (expanded Metro Cebu) | ₱540 | ₱582 (+₱42) |
| Class B daily minimum (other cities and towns) | ₱500 | ₱542 (+₱42) |
| Kasambahay monthly minimum (ROVII-DW-06) | ₱7,000 | ₱7,500 (+₱500) |
| Publication date | Not applicable | September 28, 2026 |
| Effectivity date | Not applicable | October 14, 2026 |
Rates and dates: NWPC announcement and the text of Wage Order No. ROVII-27.
What changed
- ₱42 more per day for every covered minimum wage earner in the region, in both wage classes.
- Class A is the list of cities and municipalities named in the wage order as the expanded Metro Cebu area. Class B is every other city and municipality covered by the order. Check the order’s list for the city or town where the work is actually done.
- Negros Oriental and Siquijor are covered. Section 4 of the order says that, until a wage board for the Negros Island Region is constituted, RTWPB VII keeps jurisdiction over Negros Oriental and Siquijor, and Section 5 applies the increase to minimum wage earners there too.
- Piece-rate workers: an enterprise with a piece-rate order from RTWPB VII must adjust its piece rates using the new minimum wage (Section 6).
- Kasambahay: Wage Order No. ROVII-DW-06 raises the monthly minimum by ₱500 to ₱7,500.
- The NWPC says it is part of the 2026–2027 minimum wage review cycle. Wage reviews are also under way in Regions I, II, III, IV-A, VI (including Negros Occidental) and XII.
How much more per month?
The increase is a daily amount, so the monthly effect depends on how many days are paid. Two common factors used in payroll (see the Labor Code wage provisions for the rules on wage computation) give these results:
| Work pattern | Days per year ÷ 12 | Extra pay per month |
|---|---|---|
| 5-day workweek | 261 ÷ 12 = 21.75 | ₱42 × 21.75 = ₱913.50 |
| 6-day workweek | 313 ÷ 12 ≈ 26.083 | ₱42 × 26.083 ≈ ₱1,095.50 |
These are estimates. Your actual increase depends on your paid days, your company’s divisor and any rest days or holidays you are paid for.
Who is not covered or can ask to be exempted
- Registered Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs) are excluded from minimum wage coverage, according to the NWPC.
- Retail and service establishments with 10 or fewer workers, and enterprises affected by natural calamities or human-caused disasters, may apply for an exemption, according to the NWPC. An exemption is not automatic: the employer must apply to the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board for Region VII (RTWPB VII) and should pay the new rates unless and until an exemption is granted. The wage order text itself does not state a filing period, so ask the RTWPB VII Secretariat for the current deadline and requirements.
What to do now
If you are an employee
- Check your payslip for pay periods on or after October 14, 2026. Your daily rate should be at least ₱582 (Class A) or ₱542 (Class B).
- Keep your payslips, time records and any message about pay. They are your proof if the increase is not applied.
- Ask HR or payroll in writing first. If the new rate is still not paid, file a request for assistance through SEnA at DOLE Regional Office VII. See what to do if you are paid below minimum wage.
If you are an employer
- Update payroll so that every covered worker gets at least the new rate from October 14, 2026.
- Check whether the increase compresses the gap between pay grades. If it does, you may have a wage distortion to correct with the workers or their union. The wage order points employers to the RTWPB VII Secretariat for technical help and to the formulas in NWPC Advisory No. 01, Series of 2023; you may also agree on your own formula, including through collective bargaining.
- If you think you qualify for an exemption, confirm the filing deadline and documents with the RTWPB VII Secretariat, apply promptly, keep proof of filing, and pay the new rate while the application is pending.
- If you pay piece rates under an RTWPB VII piece-rate order, recompute them from the new minimum wage.
- Update kasambahay pay to at least ₱7,500 a month from the same date.
Legal basis
Regional wage boards set minimum wages under Republic Act No. 6727 (Wage Rationalization Act) and Articles 122 to 124 of the Labor Code. Under Section 12 of RA 6727, as amended by RA 8188, an employer that refuses to pay a prescribed wage increase faces a fine of ₱25,000 to ₱100,000, imprisonment of two to four years, or both, and is ordered to pay double the unpaid benefits.
Sources
- NWPC: Central Visayas workers set to receive ₱42 minimum wage increase: rates, publication and effectivity dates, workers covered, exemptions, kasambahay order, regions under review
- Wage Order No. ROVII-27 (PDF): text of the order, Class A list, effectivity clause
- NWPC: current regional minimum wage rates: ROVII-27 and ROVII-DW-06 effective October 14, 2026
- Republic Act No. 6727: wage-setting framework
- Republic Act No. 8188: penalties for non-payment of prescribed wage increases
Sources rechecked as of: September 30, 2026. This update is general legal information, not legal advice on your specific facts.
