Kasambahay Bill Still Pending In COngress

Stories of Filipino domestic helpers enduring abuse and clamoring for higher wages are not different from the plight of their counterparts who have chosen to stay in the country.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago filed a bill during the 13th Congress to uphold the rights of domestic helpers.

“The domestic helpers or kasambahays have become a major if not an indispensable part of almost every Filipino household. However, despite their invaluable service, they still remain one of the least protected workers in our country today,” she said.

Working for the protection and justice of marginalized migrants, the Visayan Forum Foundation has been pushing for the passage of the Batas Kasambahay, otherwise known as the Domestic Worker’s Bill.

The non-profit organization has been pushing for a legislation that will protect the domestic workers in the country through Magna Carta for Domestic Workers, otherwise known as the http://womenemployeeabuse.wordpress.com/.

In the organization’s website, Visayan Forum president Ma. Cecilia Flores-Oebanda said more than one million Filipino domestic workers are deployed all over the world while there are 1.7 million working inside the Philippines.

“Domestic workers are invisible – both in practice and in policy. They work inside private homes where they are hardly touched by the supposedly long arm of the law. They are shrouded further by the lack of laws and programs that are in tune with the times and with the realities of their work,” she said.

As early as 1996, Sen. Francisco filed a bill during the 10th Congress for househelpers but it was Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile who submitted the most comprehensive version though “Batas Kasambahay” and earned the support of Visayan Forum.

In the 14th Congress, Sen. Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. joined senators Defensor-Santiago and Jinggoy E. Estrada in proposing bills to protect domestic workers.

In Senate Bill 1141, Pimentel pushed for the payment of at least the minimum wage,13th month pay, Social Security System and Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) coverage, maternity and paternity benefits.

“Under this proposed legislation, the rights and interests of household helper are enhanced and protected by ensuring just and equitable terms and conditions of their employment are embodied in their contract with their employers,” he said.

For his part, Estrada consulted with the Visayan Forum to “to further effectively carry out our intention of alleviating the plight our destitute kasambahay.”

In Senate Bill 157, house helpers will receive higher minimum wage rates of P2,000 per month for those in the National Capital Region from just P800 every month. Instead of receiving P650 every month, those in the other chartered cities and first class municipalities will get P1,500. Those house helpers in other municipalities will receive P1,000 every month from just P550.

The bill proposed the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards may adjust appropriate their minimum wage rates from time to time.

While there are already measures that encompass kasambahay concerns, the Visayan Forum said there is still no bill like the Batas Kasambahay that “provides appropriate measures to address the specific vulnerabilities of domestic work and to recognize the sector’s importance and contribution to nation-building.”

“In a broader context, the approval of this bill is a strong recognition of the dignity of every domestic worker without sacrificing equal protection to the rights their employers,” the Visayan Forum said.