Philippines Raises Minimum Pay for Overseas Domestic Workers to $500

Starting soon, Filipino domestic workers abroad will no longer earn less than $500 a month. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced on Friday that it is raising the minimum wage from the previous $400.

The move follows President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to improve the well-being and dignity of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). The DMW said the reforms aim to protect workers’ rights and welfare while ensuring fair compensation.

“The increase will be included in employment contracts,” Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said, adding that overseas labor offices are negotiating with host countries and private employers to implement the new pay.

Not all countries will have the same wage floor. Cacdac explained that local laws and employer agreements may affect pay, but for newly hired workers or those returning from vacation or re-employment, $500 will be the official minimum.

The pay increase is part of a broader eight-part reform package that includes:

• Raising the minimum monthly wage from $400 to $500.

• Free annual medical checkups and hospitalization for domestic workers (initially voluntary).

• Mandatory “Know Your Employer” (KYE) protocol, including video calls before finalizing contracts.

• A digital welfare monitoring system called “Kumusta Kabayan?” to check on workers’ conditions.

• Programs for reskilling, upskilling, and career mobility.

• Stricter standards for recruitment agency accommodations.

• Whitelisting recruitment agencies that follow ethical practices.

• Legal and other assistance through the DMW AKSYON Fund.

Domestic workers make up 20–30% of the Philippines’ annual overseas labor deployment, a group that often faces vulnerability abroad. The government hopes these reforms show its commitment to protecting them.

Cacdac also hinted that wages could increase further for workers who gain additional skills, such as training as caregivers. “The $500 may be increased when a domestic worker improves their skill set,” he said.