Guidelines out for registration of house helpers in the barangay

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of the Interior and Local Government has released the guidelines for the barangay registration of “kasambahays” or domestic workers.

The set of guidelines was contained in memorandum circular number 2013-61.

DILG-7 assistant director Elias Fernandez said that the registration of domestic workers in the barangay has already started.

DILG secretary Mar Roxas has enjoined all city and municipal mayors as well as the barangay captains to initiate the registration of all domestic workers within their jurisdiction and to require every employer to register her or his domestic workers under his or her employment in the Kasambahay Masterlist in the barangay where the employer’s residence is located.

The barangay captain shall devise a system to ensure the registration of all kasambahay in his or her barangay including an on-line registration through the barangay’s official website or email.

The memorandum also states that the city, municipal, and barangay government are authorized to allocate an amount if necessary to support the said registration.

Republic Act No. 10361 otherwise known as An Act Instituting Policies for the Protection and Welfare of Domestic Workers, or the Kasambahay Law was signed into law on January 19, 2013.

The Kasambahay Law aims to ensure the social protection of household employees under various government agencies, which include the Social Security Service, Philhealth and Pag-IBIG Fund. — (FREEMAN)