P4,000 monthly salary for ‘kasambahay’ takes effect May 8

Starting May 8, 2019, the monthly minimum wage for “kasambahay” or domestic helpers in Western Visayas will be PHP4,000.

Cyril Ticao, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional director for Western Visayas, said they already published the new wage order last April 23, mandating the increase for the kasambahay’s salary from PHP3,500 to PHP4,000.

“The minimum wage of our kasambahay is now PHP4,000 effective May 8. We call on employers to comply with this new wage order,” he announced during a press conference at the DOLE office here on Monday.

Ticao made it clear that the new minimum wage is applicable to all househelp in the region, regardless of the classification of the town or city where they are working.

Republic Act 10361 or the Domestic Workers Act (Batas Kasambahay) defines domestic worker as “any person engaged in domestic work within an employment relationship such as, but not limited to, the following: general househelp, nursemaid or “yaya”, cook, gardener or laundry person but shall exclude any person who performs domestic work only occasionally or sporadically”.

He said that the initiative to review the wage of domestic helpers was done moto propio or without a formal request from another party because they felt that the current amount is too low. He said they discussed it with representatives of the labor sector and the management and allowed them to decide.

“They agreed that it is already needed,” Ticao said.

It was discussed during their meeting with the National Wage Board in January, however, that even with the PHP3,500 salary, Western Visayas implements the second highest rate along with the National Capital Region (NCR), he noted. Region 3 or Central Luzon gives the highest salary for domestic workers.

Last year, Ticao said they received seven complaints from domestic helpers which were addressed through the Single Entry Approach (SEnA). Most of the complaints were on salaries and lack of contributions for Social Security System (SSS), Pag-IBIG and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

He said, however, that they are trying to secure a data from the Department of the Interior and Local Government as to the total number of kasambahays in Western Visayas. (PNA)