THE NEW RATES COVER THE FIVE CALABARZON PROVINCES

Wage Order No. IVA-23 applies to covered private-sector minimum wage earners in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon. The daily increases range from ₱25 to ₱45, depending on the category. The regional board announced the October 26 effectivity after publication of the order on October 10. NWPC announcement

The order sets daily rates for a normal workday of no more than eight hours. It is a minimum-wage order for covered workers, so do not assume that every person employed in the region gets the same peso increase. Wage Order IVA-23, Sections 3–4

THE MAIN NON-AGRICULTURE RATES ARE ₱645, ₱590 AND ₱550

For non-agriculture workers, the new daily minimum is ₱645 in the order's Extended Metropolitan Area, component cities and Rosario, Cavite. That is a ₱45 increase. Other first-class municipalities move to ₱590, up ₱40. Second- to fifth-class municipalities move to ₱550, up ₱25. Regional wage table

Check the municipality and province together. The order places Rosario, Cavite in the ₱645 group, while Rosario, Batangas is listed among the other first-class municipalities in the ₱590 group. Wage Order IVA-23, page 4

AGRICULTURE AND SMALL RETAIL OR SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS HAVE A ₱550 FLOOR

The new minimum for covered agricultural workers is ₱550 per day across the region. The increase is ₱25 in the Extended Metropolitan Area, component cities and first-class municipalities, and ₱42 in second- to fifth-class municipalities. Regional wage table

Covered retail and service establishments regularly employing no more than ten workers also have a ₱550 daily minimum across all areas, following a ₱42 increase. That category is expressly for retail and service establishments; it should not be applied to every business simply because it has ten or fewer workers. NWPC announcement

Small size alone does not exempt a business from minimum-wage rules. Registered Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs) have a separate exemption under Section 8 of Republic Act No. 9178. If an employer claims that exemption, verify it with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). RA 9178, Sections 3–4 and 8

KASAMBAHAY HAVE A SEPARATE ₱7,500 MONTHLY MINIMUM

A different order raises the minimum monthly wage for covered domestic workers from ₱6,750 to ₱7,500 across CALABARZON, also effective October 26. It covers live-in and live-out arrangements, including regular household work such as general househelp, childcare, cooking, gardening and laundry. NWPC domestic-worker announcement

The order excludes family drivers, service providers and people doing only occasional or sporadic domestic work outside an occupational arrangement. It also says no exemption is allowed under this domestic-worker wage order. Wage Order DW-06, Sections 2 and 5

CHECK THE CATEGORY BEFORE CHECKING THE PAYSLIP

Start with the workplace's municipality, the sector and, for retail or service establishments, the number of workers regularly employed. Ask payroll which category it used.

Compare the applicable basic wage rate for work from October 26 onward, rather than the net take-home total. Check which dates the payslip covers and review lawful deductions separately. Keep the payslip and payroll's explanation so you can check how the rate was applied.

If the classification is unclear, ask the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board IV-A for help. Under the order, workers and employers may seek guidance from the board when the increases create wage distortions within a workplace. Wage order and regional board information