More than 25,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in South Korea are set to receive higher salaries this year following an increase in the host country’s mandatory minimum wage, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced Friday.
According to the DMW’s Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in South Korea, the hourly minimum wage has been adjusted to KRW 10,320 ($7.40 or approximately ₱415), up from last year’s rate of KRW 10,030.
The adjustment translates to an average monthly salary of KRW 2,156,880 (approximately ₱87,000) for a standard 40-hour workweek, or 209 working hours per month.
The DMW stated that the new rate, which officially took effect on January 1, 2026, applies to all industries.
This includes workers under the Employment Permit System (EPS) in the manufacturing and caregiving sectors.
“The new minimum hourly wage rate… followed the consensus resolution adopted by the Korean Minimum Wage Commission,” the DMW said in a statement.
The agency noted that the hike aligns with the “principle of equal treatment,” ensuring that foreign workers receive the same minimum pay as local South Korean employees.
DMW records show that approximately 25,606 Filipino EPS workers currently earning minimum wage will benefit directly from the increase.
South Korea’s Minimum Wage Commission reviews the national wage floor annually, taking into account the cost of living, labor productivity, income distribution, and economic conditions across various industries.
