DOLE 7: Kasambahay Wage Under Review

The kasambahays or household service workers rendering services in the cities and in all first class municipalities in Central Visayas are to be paid not less than P3,000 monthly, the existing wage rate pursuant to Wage Order No. ROVII-D.W. 01, which is now under review by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB-7).

According to DOLE-7 Regional Director Atty. Johnson G. Cañete, members of RTWPB-7 are reviewing the provisions of Wage Order No. ROVII-D.W. 01, that took effect two years ago.

Cañete, who sits as Chairman of the Board, said that the RTWPB started conducting a survey among the employers and kasambahay located in the Provinces of Cebu, Bohol, and Negros Oriental.

“We started conducting the survey since the last quarter of 2018 and with that, we hope to collect substantial data regarding the status of the household helpers in the region,” said Atty. Cañete.

Part of the survey aimed to produce statistics on the number of household helpers receiving the minimum wages and covered by social welfare benefits such as the SSS, Philhealth and PAG-IBIG.

For now, added the DOLE official, domestic workers rendering household services in other non first class municipalities should receive a minimum wage of P2,500 per month.

Under Republic Act No. 10361, otherwise known as an Act Instituting Policies for the Protection and Welfare of Domestic Workers or Batas Kasambahay, the previous minimum wage rates of domestic workers were set at P2,000 for those working in the cities and in first class municipalities and P1,500 in other municipalities.

RTWPB-7 Board Secretary Grace G. Carreon bared that the upcoming Board Meeting this month will have as its main agenda is the review of the Kasambahay wage.

Carreon said, “We are planning to hold public consultations on this issue and have Dumaguete City as our first stop, although the Board has not yet agreed on the final date.”

Under the Kasambahay Law, apart from the standard minimum wages, household service workers must be able to avail and enjoy other mandatory benefits such as the 13th month pay, the five days service incentive leave (SIL) and one day rest per week.

Kasambahays also have the right to avail the Solo Parent Leave (RA 8972) the Special Leave Benefit for Woman under the Magna Carta for Women (RA 9710) and Violence against Women and their Children ( VAWC) Leave (RA 9262). (jsme/PIA7-Cebu/DOLE-7)