Bill seeks to help maids finish studies

MANILA, Philippines - Household helpers may pursue their dream of finishing school to find higher paying jobs under a law that would give them a chance to complete their studies while working as “kasambahays,” once a bill filed by a party-list lawmaker is enacted into law.

Alliance of Volunteer Educators party-list Rep. Eulogio Magsaysay, who is also vice-chairman of the House committee on higher and technical education, urged Congress to fasttrack the approval of House Bill 5289 to help household helpers pursue their education.

“As one of the vulnerable groups, household helpers are not usually endowed with proper education. If ever they acquired education it is only in the primary or intermediate levels. Without proper education, they will find it difficult to climb the social ladder and improve their lives,” Magsaysay, author of the bill, said.

He said the bill mandates all government-owned educational institutions to provide scholarship grants to deserving household helpers who pass the qualifying examinations and other screening requirements to be instituted by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), state universities and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

He said those who qualify but decide to enroll in private educational institutions will get a 60 percent discount on tuition. “All qualified household workers shall be exempted from the payment of miscellaneous fees charged by the schools,” Magsaysay said.

Under the bill, household helpers are also required to submit an authentic certification signed by their employers before taking qualifying examinations.

The Labor Code of the Philippines defines domestic or household helpers as those who render service in the employer’s home, which includes ministering to the personal comfort and convenience of the members of the employer’s household, including services of, but not limited to, babysitters, gardeners, nannies, cleaning ladies, laundry women, and the like.

The bill mandates the Department of Labor and Employment, the CHED and the TESDA shall jointly formulate guidelines for the availment of benefits under the proposed act.