Translate work contract to various dialects, DOLE urged

MANILA, Philippines - A labor group on Tuesday proposed to the Department of Labor and Employment to translate the employment contract between household helpers and their employers into different dialects.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said the move will further protect household helpers, considered as one of the most vulnerable workers.

"We have to enhance the protection of our household helpers from possible onerous or disadvantageous contract that might arise or be used by abusive employers in trying to circumvent the law. They (helpers) must know what they have just entered into," TUCP secretary general Gerard Seno.

Seno said the TUCP made the proposal after President Benigno Aquino III signed the Kasambahay Law or Republic Act No. 10361 otherwise known as "An Act Instituting Policies For The Protection And Welfare of Domestic Workers" last Jan. 18.

The law gave DOLE 90 days to come up with the implementing rules and regulations.

Seno said the drafting of the law’s implementing rules and regulations require the DOLE to draft, print and make available the copies of the employment contract but it does not say what dialect to use.

The TUCP is part of the technical working group tasked to draft the IRR. The TWG will start working today. - Dennis Carcamo