Binay lays out benefits of Kasambahay Bill

CEBU, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar C. Binay described the Kasambahay Bill which is expected to be signed into law by President Benigno Aquino III as a major step in giving dignity and respect for some 1.9 million household workers.

“The Kasambahay Bill sets standards for the protection of household workers that are consistent with international standards. It gives our household workers the dignity and respect that they deserve,” he said in statement.

Binay also reminded household workers that they can already sign up as members of the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund) and can avail themselves of multi-purpose, calamity and housing loans.

The Vice President said there were some 1,765 household workers registered as Pag-IBIG members as of September this year.

Binay said even if the Kasambahay Bill has yet to be enacted into law, an existing law requires employers to register their house helpers as members of Pag-IBIG and to pay a counterpart contribution.

“Under the law, domestic workers earning P1,500 and below shall contribute 1% of their salary, while those earning P1,500 and above, shall contribute 2% of their salary. Their employers are required to contribute 2% as counterpart,” Binay said.

Binay,  chairman of Pag-IBIG Board of Trustees, said the agency signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Samahan at Ugnayan ng mga Manggagawang Pantahanan sa Pilipinas (SUMAPI) for a joint campaign for membership registration, information dissemination, and seminars and conferences for kasambahays.

Binay said kasambahays enjoy the same benefits as any Pag-IBIG member and can even apply for a housing loan by paying the monthly amortization.

Aside from standardized pay, the Kasambahay Bill entitles domestic workers to other social benefits provided under existing laws and enrolled in the Social Security System, Philhealth, with premium payments to be shouldered by employers if the helpers receive a monthly salary below P5,000.

Senatorial candidate Jack Enrile is optimistic that the House Bill 6144 or known as the “Domestic Workers Act” will be passed as a law before the 15th Congress ends.

During his recent visit in Cebu City, Enrile said the House Bill 6144 is the result of the consolidation of the several house bills by different congressmen. This is a special law to address the peculiarity of the employment of these household helpers.

He added that this bill affirms the dignity and worth of every working household helpers and will clearly set forth the rights and interests of household helpers and bring this long neglected sector within the full and formal protection of the State.

The bill seeks to create minimum standards for the employment and treatment of kasambahay; a unified set of rights, privileges, and prohibitions; and clear procedures for grievances, termination, and rescue.

Among these minimum standards is a written contract specifying the terms of employment and a pay slip; daily and weekly rest periods and service incentive leave of five days.

Some of the rights and privileges given to these kasambahays includes the board and lodging, assistance in case of illness, privacy, access a means of communication, education and training and  the right to associate.

On the other hand, some of the prohibitions under the law includes no withholding of the basic necessities as a punishment, no public disclosure of information regarding employers, during or after employment, no requiring of deposits for loss or damage, no debt bondage, no employment of minors, no interference in the disposal of wages and no withholding of wages.

Enrile proudly revealed that it is already in the bicameral level and since both the congress and the senate approved the bill, the on-going discussion is whether they will follow the senate or the congress’ version.

If the senate version will be followed, all household helpers in Metro Manila will receive a wage of P3,500, for chartered cities will be P3,000 and for other cities in the country will be P2,500.

However, if the congress’ version will be followed, it would be up to the regional wage boards to decide on the amount of wage to be given.

Enrile, on the other hand, added that they also included in the bill a provision for 15 years old and below not to be employed and for those aged 15 to 18 years old to be given fixed number of hours so that they will still have time to study. —/JPM (FREEMAN)