Expand your global workforce in Philippines
Your guide to the employment landscape, working customs and local labor laws in Philippines
Capital
Manila
Currency
Philippine Peso (PHP)
Languages
Filipino, English
GDP per Capita
$4,166.35
Employer Tax
12.75% - 14.75%
Payroll Frequency
Bi-Monthly
Talent overview
The Philippines’ dynamic economy is rooted in the country’s labor market. The majority of the Philippine population comprises the young, attracting more foreign investors to venture into the country’s talent pool. Moreover, the Philippines’ archipelagic structure bears a lot of tourist spots for travelers and has contributed to the success of the country’s tourism industry.
Major economic hubs:
Manila, Cebu, Davao, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Baguio, and Vigan
Skills in demand:
ICT Professionals, Marketing, Creative and Design Professionals, Customer Service Professionals, Sales and Retail Professionals, Logistics and Delivery Professionals
Philippines
Top local universities in Philippines
University of the Philippines Diliman
RANKING
Local: 1
World : 804
Ateneo de Manila University
RANKING
Local: 2
World : 1,245
De La Salle University
RANKING
Local: 3
World : 1,775
University of the Philippines System
RANKING
Local: 4
World : 1,794
University of Santo Tomas
RANKING
Local: 5
World : 1,828
Top Local Job Boards:
Jobstreet, Kalibrr, Indeed, Boss Job, LinkedIn
Number of LinkedIn users:
13,210,000
Top Recruitment Agencies:
Robert Walters, Manila Recruitment, Alliance Recruitment Agency
Where to find talent
Top Local Job Boards:
Top Local Job Boards
Number of LinkedIn users:
Number of LinkedIn users
Top Recruitment Agencies:
Top Recruitment Agencies:
Salary Data
The following table provides the average salary data in the
Philippines:
| Job Title | Average Monthly Salary (PHP) | Average Monthly Salary (USD) |
| Sales Manager | 75,000 | 1,378 |
| Data Scientist | 69,000 | 1,267 |
| Accounting Manager | 66,400 | 1,220 |
| Project Manager | 48,600 | 893 |
| Mobile Developer | 42,800 | 786 |
Employ in Philippines
Employing in the Philippines
Talent aquisition in the Philippines requires you to be aware of the local employment laws, benefits, payroll, and taxes. Below, are everything you need to know on how to successfully onboard talents from the Philippines.
Employee Contract
As a general rule, employment in the Philippines does not require a formal or written contract. A consensual contract may be agreed upon by both parties with the exception of contractors and subcontractors which written contracts are required. Written contracts are generally written in English, however, the employer must provide a Filipino contract if the employee is a Filipino Citizen. This is to clarify points and agreements for the employee under the contract.
All contracts, consensual or written, must adhere to The Labor Code of the Philippines.
Probation Period
The probationary period for employees ranges from 1 – 6 months.
Public and Provincial Holidays
| Date | Name | Type |
| January 1 | New Year’s Day | National Holiday |
| January 29 | Lunar New Year’s Day | National Holiday |
| March 31 | Eidul-Fitar | National Holiday |
| April 9 | The Day of Valor | National Holiday |
| April 17 | Maundy Thursday | National Holiday |
| April 18 | Good Friday | National Holiday |
| April 19 | Black Saturday | National Holiday |
| May 1 | Labor Day | National Holiday |
| June 7 | Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) | National Holiday |
| June 12 | Independence Day | National Holiday |
| August 21 | Ninoy Aquino Day | National Holiday |
| August 25 | National Heroes Day | National Holiday |
| October 31 | Special non-working Day | National Holiday |
| November 1 | All Saints’ Day | National Holiday |
| November 30 | Bonifacio Day | National Holiday |
| December 8 | Feast of the Immaculate Conception | National Holiday |
| December 24 | Christmas Eve | National Holiday |
| December 25 | Christmas Day | National Holiday |
| December 30 | Rizal Day | National Holiday |
| December 31 | New Year’s Eve | National Holiday |
Local Holidays
| Date | Name | Localities |
| January 27 | Lailatul Isra Wal Mi Raj | All |
| June 8 | Eid al-Adha Day 2 | All |
| June 27 | Amun Jadid | All |
| September 5 | Maulid un-Nabi | All |
Employee Leaves
| Type of leave | Time period | Mandatory |
| Annual leave/Earned Leave | 5 days | Yes |
| Maternity Leave | 105 days | Yes |
*Allotted sick leaves in the Philippines depend on the contract between the employee and employer.
Leave Compliance
Payroll in Philippines
Payroll cycle
Workers are paid twice a month. Paydays are generally once every two weeks and must not exceed 16 days for the second.
Minimum wage
The minimum wage in the Philippines depends on the industry section and the region.
Read more
Overtime pay
Any hours exceeding the regular 8 working hours per day are considered overtime and should get paid at 25% over their standard rate. The rate jumps to 30% when working overtime on a rest day, special or regular holiday.
How taxes work
Employer Payroll Tax
| Type of Contribution | Tax Rate |
| Social Security System (SSS) | 10% |
| Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) | 1% to 3% (depending on monthly salary range) |
| Philippine Health Corporation (PHIC) | 2.25% |
Employee Payroll Tax
| Type of Contribution | Tax Rate |
| Social Security System (SSS) | 5% |
| Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) | 2% to 3% (depending on monthly salary range) |
| Philippine Health Corporation (PHIC) | 2.25% |
Employee Income Tax
Income tax is levied at a progressive rate on all monthly income as follows:
| Amount of Net Taxable Income (PHP, Philippine Pesos) | Rate | |
| Over | Does not exceed | |
| 0 | PHP 250,000 | 0% |
| PHP 250,000 | PHP 400,000 | 20% of the excess over PHP 250,000 |
| PHP 400,000 | PHP 800,000 | PHP 30,000 + 25% of the excess over PHP 400,000 |
| PHP 800,000 | PHP 2,000,000 | PHP 130,000 + 30% of the excess over PHP 800,000 |
| PHP 2,000,000 | PHP 8,000,000 | PHP 490,000 + 32% of the excess over PHP 2,000,000 |
| PHP 8,000,000 | PHP 2,410,000 + 35% of the excess over PHP 8,000,000 | |
VAT
VAT in the Philippines is 12%.
Bonus
13th Month Pay
All regular employees are entitled to a 13th-month pay provided that they have worked at least one (1) month during the calendar year. The pay must at least be 1/12 of the total basic salary earned for the year. It must be paid by December 24th.
Employee Benefits
Full-time employees in the Philippines are ensured to have insurance benefits such as
- Social Security (SSS)
- Medical (PhilHealth)
- Housing benefits (PAG-IBIG)
- Provident Fund
Employee offboarding
Letting go of an employee in the Philippines is by no means an easy task. Before you terminate one of your employees, you must follow The Labor Code of the Philippines. You can only dismiss an employee if:
They have behavioral issues such as:
- Incurred serious misconduct;
- Willful disobedience;
- Gross and habitual neglect of duty;
- Fraud or breach of trust;
- Commission of a crime or offense against the employer, his family, or representative;
Or the company is retrenching or expanding with the following reasons:
- Installation of labor-saving devices
- Redundancy
- Retrenchment to prevent losses
- Closure and cessation of business; and
- Disease / illness
The notice period before termination is up to 3 months for permanent employees and 1 month for probationary employees.
Terminated employees are entitled to a severance pay package adhering to The Labor Code of the Philippines. The computation of the severance pay depends on the cause of termination except relating to behavioral issues.
- One month pay or at least ½ month pay for every year of service whichever is higher (a fraction of 6 months is considered a whole year) including the available allowances with the position
- Separation pay is exempt from taxation
Visa and
immigration
If you’re looking to work as an expat in the Philippines, there are two primary relevant visas you can acquire. These visas depend on the nature of your contract or dealing with the company.
Read more
Your employment toolkit for Philippines
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Overtime Pay
Minimum Wage
| Region | Non-agricultural (PHP, Philippine Peso) | Agricultural | |
| Plantation (PHP, Philippine Peso) | Non-plantation (PHP, Philippine Peso) | ||
| NCR | 610 | 573 | 573 |
| CAR | 430 | 430 | 430 |
| I | 402-435 | 402 | 402 |
| II | 435 | 415 | 415 |
| III | 449-500 | 434-470 | 422-454 |
| IV-A | 385-520 | 385-479 | 385-479 |
| IV-B | 369-395 | 369-395 | 369-395 |
| V | 395 | 395 | 395 |
| VI | 450-480 | 440 | 440 |
| VII | 420-468 | 415-458 | 415-458 |
| VIII | 405 | 375 | 375 |
| IX | 381 | 368 | 368 |
| X | 423-428 | 411-426 | 411-426 |
| XI | 481 | 476 | 476 |
| XII | 403 | 382 | 382 |
| CARAGA | 385 | 385 | 385 |
| BARMM | 336-361 | 316-336 | 316-336 |
Overtime Pay
Visa and Immigration
If you’re looking to work as an expat in the Philippines, there are two primary relevant visas you can acquire. These visas depend on the nature of your contract or dealing with the company.
| 9(g) Pre-Arranged Employee Commercial Visa | Requisite: Alien Employment Permit (AEP)
Validity: Depends on contract or Bureau of Immigration Entitled to multiple entries in and out of the country. Eligible to legitimately work and stay in the country approved by the Bureau of Immigration corresponding to the employment contract. |
| Special Non-Immigrant Visa or 47(A)(2) | Validity: Contract or Term of Office or one (1) year whichever is shorter
Company-specific visa that has less than 5% foreign national workforce. Must be sponsored / petitioned by the employer. |