DOLE: Household helpers to become regular employed workers

MANILA, Philippines – Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz yesterday said household helpers would soon become regular employed workers with the impending passage of the Kasambahay Bill in Congress.

“With the passage of the measure, the hiring of household helpers would require employment contract and they would be receiving holiday pay and mandatory leaves like any regular workers,” Baldoz said in an interview.

However, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) wants housemaids to retain their status as “family members.”

Baldoz said there were proposals to set aside the Filipino culture of treating household helpers as members of the family with the passage of the measure.

“There were suggestions to set aside completely the culture of treating them as members of the family, saying members of the family do not have contracts,” she said.

“But for DOLE, we cannot set aside that culture and this measure should serve for the benefit of our household helpers and not the other way around,” she added.

Baldoz said once the bill is approved, DOLE would be drafting a standard employment contract in the hiring of household helpers nationwide.

The Kasambahay bill has passed second reading and is already scheduled for third and final approval within the month.

Baldoz noted that the measure has been crafted consistent with the recently ratified International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention on Decent Work for Domestic Workers.

She said the ratification of the Convention would provide the necessary welfare and protection for domestic workers, but the passage of Kasambahay Bill is still necessary for implementation.

“The Philippine ratification would complete the required two ILO member-states to put the Convention into force,” Baldoz stressed.

The ILO Convention sets the standards for decent work for domestic workers and provides them with the same protection, respect, and dignity accorded to other workers.

The fundamental principles and rights at work of domestic workers include: (a) freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining; (b) elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labor; (c) effective abolition of child labor; and (d) elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation. –Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star)