Senate OKs wage hike for domestic helpers

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate has approved on second reading a bill granting household helpers or “kasambahay” a higher monthly minimum wage and additional benefits, and ensuring their rights.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada said the Senate Committee on Labor and Employment has prepared a committee report approving the bills for all “kasambahay” or household helpers that would grant them a minimum wage of P2,500 per month.

Estrada, chairman of the panel, said the committee has decided to stick to a monthly P2,500 minimum wage for household helpers in first class municipalities and P1,500 for those in other municipalities.

The measure also provides a mandatory contract between the household helper and the employer to ensure their benefits.

The committee also included a provision in the measure that would safeguard the rights of household helpers to a higher pay if they are already receiving a wage higher than P2,500.

This was in accordance to the suggestion of Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III and Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano who urged the committee to ensure that the bill would not affect “kasambahays” who are already receiving a higher pay.

Earlier, senators proposed varied minimum wage hike for household helpers ranging from P2,000 to as high as P4,000.

Estrada said it is high time to amend the provision in the Labor Code which mandates an P800 minimum wage for Metro Manila-based household workers.

“They (kasambahay) enjoy the trust and confidence of their employers and that they are called kasambahays precisely because they are considered as part of the family,” Estrada said.

But Estrada said the “kasambahay” bill does not cover family drivers. The bill also provides safeguards for employers who are faced with household helpers who are abusive.

He said a contract can be terminated such as if a nanny is found abusing her employers’ child and may also face charges. –HANNAH L. TORREGOZA, Manila Bulletin