Wage board reviewing kasambahay pay in Central Visayas

CEBU, Philippines — The minimum wage of household workers or kasambahay in Central Visayas is now being reviewed by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB).

Department of Labor and Employment regional director Johnson Cañete, who is also RTWPB chairman, said yesterday the wage board has already started conducting a survey among the employers and kasambahay in the provinces of Cebu, Bohol and Negros Oriental.

Presently, household workers in the cities and all first class municipalities in the region should be paid not less than P3,000 every month.

That's mandated by wage order ROVII-D.W. which took effect two years ago.

“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,” Cañete said in his statement.

The survey aims to get data on the number of household helpers receiving the minimum wages and those who are being covered by social welfare benefits such as SSS, Philhealth and Pag-IBIG.

According to Cañete, house helpers in other municipalities (not first class) should be given P2,500.00 minimum wage per month.

Under Republic Act 10361 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 first class municipalities and P1,500 for domestic workers based in other municipalities.

The upcoming wage board meeting this month will review the kasambahay wages.

The RTWBP will hold public consultations on the matter and is eyeing Dumaguete City as its first stop.

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

Kasambahays also have the right to avail the Solo Parent Leave (RA 8972); Special Leave Benefit for Woman under the Magna Carta for Women (RA 9710); and Violence against Women and their Children ( VAWC) Leave (RA 9262).