Why there is no single Philippine minimum wage
NWPC and the regional tripartite wage boards publish rates that vary by region and may also vary by sector, establishment size or work category. An NCR rate cannot be labelled the national minimum.
Record the wage-order number, effective date, region and covered worker before making any real-value calculation.
Put the old wage into today’s money
Once the correct historical daily rate is known, CPI can estimate what it would be worth today. This does not automatically identify the current lawful wage.
For a regional wage, use CPI figures for the same region and dates when they are available.
- Keep daily and monthly pay units separate
- Use the wage order’s effective date
- Compare like regions whenever possible
What CPI cannot say about an individual worker
CPI does not include hours worked, overtime, allowances, taxes, benefits, job security or household size. Average occupational pay is also not the statutory minimum.
Report the price-adjusted figure as a general baseline, then present legal and labor-market comparisons separately.