Zamboanga domestic workers to get wage hike

by Roel Pareño (The Philippine Star) – 10 Nov 2019

ZAMBOANGA CITY ,Philippines — The minimum salary of house helpers in the Zamboanga peninsula will increase by P1,000.

Under Wage Order 2 approved on Oct. 22 by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board, the monthly salary of domestic workers in cities and first class municipalities in the region is pegged at P3,500.

House helpers in other municipalities will get P3,000.

The wage order covers Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay, including the cities of Dapitan, Dipolog, Pagadian, Zamboanga and Isabela.

The wage increase shall apply to all domestic workers whether in a live-in or live-out arrangement, but not limited to general household helpers, nannies, cooks, gardeners, laundry persons or any person who regularly performs domestic work in a household in an occupational basis.

Family drivers, children under foster family arrangement and those who perform domestic work occasionally are not covered by the wage order.

The wage board said the salary increase is ”sort of a Christmas gift” to house helpers.

The previous salary increase for domestic workers in the Zamboanga peninsula was in 2016, amounting to P500 per month.

“The purchasing power, inflation rate and the price of commodities were among the considerations in coming up with a new salary ceiling for kasambahays,” Ofelia Domingo, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) director, who sits as regional wage board head, said.

Domingo said the wage order does not provide any exception. She urged those who do not receive the prescribed salary to file a complaint.