Cordillera household workers get pay hike

THE minimum salary of household service workers in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) has been increased by P500, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) said Saturday.

In a statement, the RTWPB said that it has already promulgated Wage Order CAR-DW-01, which prescribes the new minimum wage rates for domestic workers in the region.

With the pay hike, the regional wage board said the gross minimum salary of domestic workers in the region shall not be less than P2,500 in chartered cities and first-class municipalities, and P2,000 in other municipalities.

Under Republic Act 10361, or the “Domestic Workers Act”, the minimum wage for those employed in chartered cities and first class municipalities shall be P2,000 a month; while those employed in other municipalities shall get P1,500 a month.

The law provides that regional wage boards may adjust the minimum wage rates of domestic workers one year from the effectivity of RA 10361.

The RTWPB said the wage order shall apply to all domestic workers, whether on a live-in or live-out arrangement, including general househelpers, yaya (nanny), cook, gardener, and laundry person.

Not covered, on the other hand, are service providers, family drivers, and children under foster family arrangement.

The wage order also stated that the employer shall provide for the basic necessities of the domestic worker, including at least three adequate meals a day, and humane sleeping arrangements that ensure safety, as well as provision of appropriate rest and assistance to the domestic worker in case of illness and injuries sustained during service without loss of benefits.

The wage board further said that the employers and their domestic workers may voluntarily and mutually agree to adopt a competency-based pay scheme in setting and adjusting the pay of domestic workers “over and above the applicable wage”.

The wage order will take effect 15 days after its publication in a local newspaper. (HDT/Sunnex)