Pro-househelp bill re-filed in Senate

The bill seeking to increase the salary and give different benefits to household helpers — as well as to have a special day for them — has been re-filed in the Senate. “Araw ng mga Kasambahay (Household helpers’ Day)" shall fall on the day the bill is passed into law, according to Sen. Loren Legarda, author of Senate Bill No. 7. Legarda’s bill says all household working arrangements or agreements shall be covered by a written employment contract. “Gusto kong institutionalized ang trato sa ating mga kasambahay. Dapat lang na ang ating mga kasambahay ay may mga benepisyo (at) humane ang pagtrato sa kanila," Legarda told reporters during a weekly forum at the Senate Thursday. (I want to institutionalize the treatment of household helpers. Our helpers should have benefits and be treated humanely.) She said the contract should indicate the helper’s period of employment that should not exceed two years; monthly compensation and mode of payment; annual salary increase; duties and responsibilities; working hours and day-off schedule; and sleeping arrangement. Under the bill, helpers in the National Capital Region (NCR) shall have a minimum monthly wage of P800 or P4,000, while those in chartered cities and first class municipalities shall be given a minimum monthly wage of P650 or P2,500, and those in other municipalities a minimum wage of P550 or P2,000 a month. However, the bill makes it unlawful for an employer to use the future or un-rendered services of the household helper as collateral for a loan or advance made by the latter. In addition, the employer shall be required to provide suitable and sanitary living quarters as well as adequate food and medical attendance to their employee. They shall also be required to have their helpers covered by the Social Security System and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, with the contributions shouldered by the employer. “Para hindi na uutang nang uutang sayo kapag nagkasakit sila (So they won't have to borrow money from you if they get sick)," said Legarda. Employers shall also be mandated to register their helper with the local government units. The bill defines helpers as “any person, who renders for compensation, to a homeowner/employer undertaking tasks ascribed as normal household chores within a specific household." Household helpers include maids, cooks, houseboys, and nannies who provide daily service, either on a full-time, live-in or live-out basis, the bill says. - Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMANews.TV