Comply with ‘kasambahay’ wage hike, west Visayas employers told

The order, which took effect Dec. 8, approved the wage increase for “kasambahays” in the region’s provinces, including the highly urbanized cities of Bacolod and Iloilo. (Pixabay photo)

BACOLOD CITY — Employers have been advised to comply with the increased monthly wage for domestic workers or “kasambahays”.

“We are urging employers to give their domestic workers the right salary that they deserve, which can be considered as their early Christmas gifts,” said Wennie Sancho, labor representative to the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Western Visayas.

RTWPB-Western Visayas published Wage Order No. 2 last Nov. 23 on local dailies, prescribing the new minimum wage rates for the region’s domestic workers.

The order, which took effect Dec. 8, approved the wage increase for “kasambahays” in the region’s provinces, including the highly urbanized cities of Bacolod and Iloilo.

The order prescribes a standard minimum wage rate of PHP3,500 for house helpers in the region.

Domestic workers in cities and first-class municipalities will receive a pay increase of PHP1,000 while those in other towns will get a pay hike of PHP1,500.

In the previous wage order, which lapsed in February this year, domestic workers in cities and first-class municipalities received PHP2,500 per month while those in other towns were paid PHP2,000 only.

Sancho reiterated that the new wage order no longer classifies domestic workers in terms of the location of their employment – whether they are based in cities or municipalities – since all domestic workers deserve to receive higher pay.

Wage Order No. 2 shall apply to all domestic workers, whether on a live-in or live-out arrangement, such as but not limited to general househelp, child-minder or “yaya”, cook, gardener, laundry person, and any person who regularly performs work in one household on an occupational basis.

Sancho said to ensure that employers comply with the wage increase, local government units should establish the Kasambahay Help Desk, which is mandated by Republic Act No. 10361 or the Domestic Workers Act.

The help desk serves as service center where workers can file their complaints on any violation committed by their employers, Sancho said.