Good news for domestic workers in the BARMM! A recent announcement promises a much-needed boost to their monthly earnings. The Bangsamoro Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board (BTWPB), under the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE), has approved a P500 increase in the minimum wage for kasambahay, or domestic workers, within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). This decision, formalized in Minimum Wage Order No. BARMM-DW-02, was signed on December 17, 2025, at the Bangsamoro Government Center (BGC) in Cotabato City.
This wage order applies to all domestic workers residing or working in the BARMM. This includes those providing household-related services such as general household help, cooking, cleaning, laundry, babysitting or caregiving, gardening, and other similar tasks.
MOLE Minister Muslimin Sema, who also chairs the BTWPB, emphasized that the ministry is committed to ensuring fair compensation alongside safe and humane working conditions. This includes providing regular rest days, nutritious food, decent sleeping quarters, and protecting the rights and welfare of domestic workers. He highlighted that this initiative is a key part of the ministry’s dedication to promoting just wages, humane labor conditions, and social justice for all workers.
Minister Sema also urged employers to fully comply with the wage adjustment, emphasizing the importance of upholding respect and dignity for kasambahay in every household.
But here's where it gets interesting... The MOLE carefully assessed the wage adjustments, gathering input from both management and labor sectors through public consultations. They also used data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), and the Ministry of Trade, Investments and Tourism (MTIT) to inform their decision.
Currently, the minimum monthly wage for domestic workers in the BARMM is P5,000. The new Wage Order will raise this to P5,500.
However, not everyone is included. The Wage Order excludes family drivers, children under foster family arrangements, service providers, and individuals performing work occasionally rather than on an occupational basis.
The Order will take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Bangsamoro Gazette or a newspaper of regional circulation.
What do you think about this increase? Is it enough to provide a decent living for domestic workers in the BARMM? Do you think it will encourage more people to enter the domestic work sector? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
