Companies operating in the Philippines have taken a leading position in the 2026 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For Southeast Asia list, accounting for 54 of the 100 organisations recognised.
The ranking, published by Fortune in partnership with Great Place To Work, marks the first time a single country has secured such a large majority of places on the regional list.
The results are based on confidential feedback from 1,322,537 employees across ten Southeast Asian countries, providing insight into workplace conditions and employee experiences across the region.
Golden Arches Makes Highest Debut Among New Entrants
Golden Arches Development Corporation, the operator of McDonald’s in the Philippines, secured seventh place, making it the highest-ranked new entrant in the 2026 selection.
The company opened the first McDonald’s restaurant in the Philippines on Morayta Street in Manila in 1981. It has since expanded its operations to approximately 800 restaurants nationwide.
Its position places the fast-food operator among the region’s leading employers recognised in this year’s ranking.
Balibago Waterworks and Megaworld Feature in Top 25
Other Philippine businesses also secured positions among the top 25 companies.
Balibago Waterworks System ranked 19th. Established in Angeles City, Pampanga, in 1958, the company has expanded to more than 90 municipal franchises across Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.
Megaworld Corporation, known for developments including Eastwood City and McKinley Hill, placed 22nd. The property developer recorded a significant improvement from its 90th position in the previous year’s ranking.
Great Place To Work Certification Recognises Local Workplace Practices
The companies included in the ranking are recognised as Great Place To Work Certified organisations.
Charles Plumley, General Manager of Great Place To Work Philippines, said 27 companies on the regional list held certification exclusively in the Philippines.
He explained that their recognition reflected workplace management practices and employee experiences within their Philippine operations rather than standards applied uniformly across international branches.
Plumley said multinational companies had historically entered the Philippine market to access its workforce, but the latest results demonstrated the role of employers investing in workplace culture.
He also highlighted the importance of maintaining a consistent working environment across large operations, particularly for businesses such as Golden Arches, where employee experiences can influence service delivery and business performance.
Workplace Culture Linked to Business Performance
The ranking highlights the role of workplace culture in how companies manage employees and compete in their respective industries.
Plumley said businesses that develop effective workplace environments can improve quality and productivity while providing employees with more rewarding career opportunities.
For companies operating across multiple locations, maintaining consistent workplace practices is also important in supporting employee satisfaction and customer experiences.
Fortune and Great Place To Work Continue Regional Partnership
The 2026 selection is the second edition of Fortune’s Southeast Asia Best Companies to Work For ranking.
It builds on the longstanding partnership between Fortune and Great Place To Work, whose workplace research has been used by Fortune in the United States since 1998.
The complete list of recognised companies is available for public review through Great Place To Work’s local platform.
