With under 10% of househelp with social security, DOLE told to boost info drive on Batas Kasambahay

MANILA – Noting official data that indicate “still very few domestic workers are covered with social security benefits,” detained Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada urged the Department of Labor and Employment to beef up efforts to inform the public about the prescribed standards, rights and privileges for domestic workers under the Batas Kasambahay.

Estrada, the main author of Republic Act 10361 outlining policies for the protection and welfare of domestic workers, issued the call after the DOLE recently disclosed updates on the number of househelp registered with the social security mechanisms.

A DOLE press release said that as of December 2014, a total of 120,000 kasambahay have been registered with Social Security System (SSS); 26,671 with Pag-IBIG, and 59,734 with PhilHealth.

According to 2010 data, an estimated two million Filipinos work as general househelp, nursemaid or “yaya”, cook, gardener, and laundry person.

Witht his, Estrada said: “The figures tell us that still very few domestic workers are covered with social security benefits: less than 7% are SSS members, 3% are PhilHealth members, and 1% Pag-IBIG members.”

Batas Kasambahay directs the DOLE in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, the SSS, PhilHealth, Employees’ Compensation Commission, and Pag-IBIG, to develop and implement a continuous information dissemination program on the provisions of the Batas Kasambahay both at the national and local level.

Estrada said the law’s implementing rules and regulations state that the employers, kasambahay associations, labor organizations, and civil society groups shall be tapped in the information dissemination campaign.

He lauded DOLE for setting up the Kasambahay Unified Registration System (URS) which simplified the new members’ registration procedure for SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG. However, Estrada urged the agencies concerned to reach out to more employers and domestic workers perhaps through mobile offices, encourage them to sign up, and ensure that the kasambahay population is getting the most out of the law.

The low membership turnout, he said, could be a symptom of still prevalent non-compliance with and not full implementation of the other important provisions of the landmark labor measure, even two years since its enactment in January 2013.

Aside from coverage of social security benefits, Batas Kasambahay provides decent working conditions for domestic workers, minimum wages and benefits similar to those in the formal employment sector, protection against abuse and maltreatment, nationwide registration system for all kasambahay at the barangay level, among others. –Ernie Reyes, InterAksyon.com