Cash bonus proposed for house domestics

AS their protection entirely reposed on their employers’ kindness or lack of it, a 13th month pay for household help or “kasambahay” has been sought in the House of Representatives.

Rep. Catalina Cabrera Bagasina of ALE Party-list made the proposal under her House Bill 4753 or the Kasambahay Christmas Bonus Act of 2011 mandating employers to pay their qualified household workers their 13th month pay not later than December 24th of every year.

Bagasina cited that while government and private workers are receiving their annual year-end bonus, most household helpers largely depend on the benevolence of their employers for such benefits. There are household helpers who have social security benefits, but this is again subject to the employers’ discretion.

“The household help sector has no labor law protection because there is no law protecting them. They do not enjoy the minimum wage law, overtime pay, medical benefits and service incentive leave. This measure will give them the extra money to send to their families during the holidays,” Bagasina pointed out.

Moreover, Bagasina argued that her proposal is in accordance with the government’s responsibility to uplift the social conditions of all household helpers nationwide.

“Granting them 13th month pay is one way of sharing with all qualified household helpers so they can truly enjoy and experience the true meaning of Christmas,” Bagasina said in closing. –LLANESCA T. PANTI, Manila Times