A NON-GOVERNMENT organization in Negros strongly supports the passage of Batas Kasambahay for the welfare of domestic helpers.
The bill is long overdue, said Romualdo Señeres II of the Visayan Forum Foundation Incorporated, which is lobbying for the immediate passage of Batas Kasambahay.
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He said the Labor Code of the Philippines allegedly defines that helpers is for the “enjoyment” and “personal satisfaction” of the employers.
Señeres stressed that some employers treated their helpers as slaves who worked more than 12 hours every day. Others have no day off and others were sexually abused.
Sandra Delfin, of the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole), said although the minimum wage of a house helper is P800 for Metro Manila and P500 to P600 a month in the provincial level, some employers give the helpers not less than P1,000 a month.
Delfin also said that domestic helpers were enrolled in the Philippine Health Insurance. She stressed, however, that majority of the household helpers do not enjoy this health benefit, as well as the benefit provided by the Social Security System (SSS) and Pag-Ibig.
SSS branch head Ireneo Villaflor, in the same forum, said Republic Act 7655 provides that household employees like driver, baby sitter, cook and nannies, among others, who received not less that P1,000 a month should be enrolled in the system.
Like farmers, fisherfolk and cigarette vendors, household helpers with an income of at least P1,000 a month and not over 60 years of age will fall under the mandatory coverage of the Home Development Mutual Fund Law of 2009, said Pag-Ibig branch head Julio Carmel Alfarero.
PhilHealth officer-in-charge Marites Que, for her part, said house helpers and drivers over 21 years of age should be enrolled in the health insurance for their hospitalization benefits as well as for their beneficiaries.
In this connection, Marlene Pepino, of the VFFI, said to level up the “Kasambahay,” they started to organize the domestic helpers and educate them to stand their rights.
She said the group has lined up activities for the household helpers this May in connection with the “Kasambahay” day last April 29.
Among the activities are the skills and enhancement trainings, counseling, values formation and medical mission.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Urgent passage of Batas Kasambahay bill urged
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