Kasambahay Ordinance approved

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City council has recently approved the “Kasambahay Ordinance,” which aims to protect the rights of household helpers as well as their employers.

This has been happily welcomed by the women and children’s rights organizations who have been anticipating the approval of the resolution that was proposed by City Councilor Lea Ouano-Japson in March 2009.

Jeneth Aquino, social worker officer from the Visayan Forum Foundation Inc., recently said in a press conference that they have been waiting for this day since they know this would provide protection for household helpers and provide penalties in any form of violence committed against them.

In the ordinance, it says that “it is recognized that a good number of “Kasambahays”, some of whom are minors hired in the city of Cebu, have experienced some form of abuse and violence by their employers. The Cebu city council recognizes the necessity to timely address this social problem especially that it involves women and children.”

Kasambahay violence, as explained in the ordinance, refers to any act which results in physical, psychological, and economic suffering.

This would include slapping, pulling of hair, kicking, shoving and hitting with an object as well as not giving food for sustenance of each day, threats or intimidation, name-calling and derogatory remarks.

Employers withholding salaries and making salary deductions without basis would also fall under the said ordinance.

But aside from providing protection for the household helpers, the Kasambahay Ordinance is also aimed for the employers who will also be provided as well with proper information on their rights in order to prevent conflicts with their helpers. This would be done through pre-employment orientations to be provided to both the employers and household helpers.

With the ordinance, a Kasambahay desk officer is designated in the Office of the Mayor and would handle the concerns of both employers and household helpers.

The Kasambahay Desk can provide “quick response in the community level to facilitate the clarification of employment issues.”

The ordinance also includes the household helpers’ rights to be covered by the Social Security System, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Home Development Mutual Fund of PAG-IBIG. — (FREEMAN)