House okays Magna Carta of Day Care Workers on 2nd reading

FILE: Legislators approved House Bill 6550, which aims to improve the social and economic well-being of day care workers. (Photo: House of Representatives of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA — The House of Representatives has approved on second reading a measure seeking to establish the Magna Carta of Day Care Workers.

Legislators approved House Bill 6550, which aims to improve the social and economic well-being of day care workers.

The bill provides for the creation of at least one Day Care Worker I and one Day Care Worker II plantilla positions — entitled to Salary Grade 6 and Salary Grade 8, respectively — in all day care centers nationwide.

Principal author, Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, said the proposed law would benefit more than 84,000 day care workers nationwide.

“Under HB 6550, over 84,000 day care workers nationwide will be regularized as the measure mandates for the creation of two plantilla positions for day care workers per barangay,” Brosas said.

“We want security of tenure and higher allowances and benefits for our day care workers, unlike under the current setup wherein their employment is subject to political considerations,” she added.

The bill states that day care workers shall receive additional compensation, such as overtime pay, hazard allowance and subsistence allowance.

Furthermore, the bill provides that all day care workers shall automatically become members of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Pag-IBIG, and PhilHealth.

The bill seeks the creation of a Special Personnel Selection Board (SPSB) for day care worker positions to screen candidates and create a pool of 10 qualified applicants for possible appointment to the positions.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), will be mandated to provide for a system of continuing education and skills training and knowledge enhancement programs for day care workers.

“Aside from financial and economic benefits, we also want continuous development for our day care workers that is why the bill also mandates DSWD in coordination with DepEd, CHED, and TESDA to provide skills training, knowledge enhancement, and scholarship opportunities,” Brosas said.

Likewise, the bill encourages non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or private volunteer organizations to assist or support the government in the implementation of programs and projects for day care workers. As such, day care centers shall be allowed to accept any assistance or support from NGOs.

The amount necessary to cover the salaries and benefits of day care workers shall be charged from the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) and the Special Education Fund of LGUs concerned. (PNA)