Bello backs P6-K minimum pay for domestic workers

FILE: Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III, in a press briefing for the Philippine media delegation at the Orchard Hotel in Singapore on April 27, 2018. ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is pushing for an increase in the minimum salary of domestic workers (kasambahays) to PHP6,000.

“The PHP6,000 is a proposal for kasambahays, I think PHP6,000 is reasonable,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said at the virtual DOLE yearend press conference on Thursday.

He added that the proposal is for all household helpers across the country, adding that their current salary ranging from PHP2,000 to PHP3,000 is not enough.

“If employers cannot afford such amount, he/she should do what the helpers are doing.

Don’t hire house help for a meager amount of PHP2,000 to PHP3,000.

That is too low,” Bello said.

Asked if there is a need to amend a law for the proposal to be realized, Bello said there is no need for it “since every year the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) submits wage adjustment depending on the region”.

“When it comes to the salary of household workers I want them to have the same amount of pay whether they are in Isabela or Mindanao…PHP6,000 is reasonable. It can send their children to school but PHP3,000 is way too low,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bello added that they have not received yet complaints regarding violations of the implementation of minimum wage.

“Actually on the issue of minimum wage we have not received any complaint of alleged non-compliance with the minimum wage as mandated by the NWPC in conjunction with the existing labor code,” he said.