Wednesday, January 19, 2011

KASAMBAHAY BILL - MANILA DOMESTIC WORKERS BILL

http://webpages.scu.edu/ftp/tclarke/WAGE%20The%20Risk.html
Domestic workers are called a friendly term in Manila "Kasambahay": to emphasize they are part of the household. Below is the bill  that is yet to be signed in Congress to provide legal recognition for the domestic workers and recognize the important role that Kasambahay plays in the building of the family and of society.

The kasambahay has the right to decent work wh


ich includes decent employment and income, humane conditions of work, access to and coverage in social protection schemes, and the opportunity for social dialogue and representation.

Right to Just and Humane Conditions of Work. The kasambahay has the right to a safe and healthy work environment, continuous (sufficient) rest periods, time for recreation and leisure.

Right to Just and Humane Treatment. The Kasambahay is entitled to be treated free from any physical or psychological violence, or any other act which debases, degrades or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of the kasambahay as a human being be used upon the latter.

Right against Involuntary Servitude, Debt Bondage and Trafficking. The kasambahay shall have the right to refuse or deny his or her services to work or tasks not stipulated in the employment contract.  In case the kasambahay agrees to work in industrial undertakings and perform  work or task for the service or benefit of another household, he or she shall be entitled to  applicable minimum wage or just compensation respectively.

Right to Social Protection. The kasambahay shall be covered by the Social Security System (SSS) and be entitled to all the benefits provided under Republic Act No. 8282, as amended. The employers of said kasambahay shall pay for the employer's share of the SSS contributions without deducting the same from the monthly compensation of the kasambahay. The kasambahay shall also pay for the employee’s share of the SSS contributions.
All house helpers shall be covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) in accordance with its guidelines and be entitled to all the benefits provided
by law.

Right to Privacy. The kasambahay shall have the right to privacy during his/her rest periods. The kasambahay's right to privacy shall extend to any and all forms of personal communications.

Right to Minimum Wage. The kasambahay shall be entitled to the following minimum wage rates:
(a) TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (Php2,500.00) a month for KASAMBAHAY WORKING in the National Capital Region (NCR);
(b) ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED PESOS (Php1,700.00) a month for those WORKING in other chartered cities and first class municipalities; and,
(c) ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (Php 1,500.00) a month for those WORKING in other municipalities."

Within one (1) year after the passage of this law, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) shall determine and adjust, from time to time, the appropriate minimum wage rates of kasambahays in accordance with the special wage fixing mechanism.

Right to free board, lodging and medical attendance. The kasambahay has the right to suitable and sanitary living quarters as well as adequate food and medical attendance free of charge.

Right to access educational opportunities. The kasambahay has the right to access opportunities for education and training to upgrade their skills and improve the services they provide to their employers.

Right to self-organization. The kasambahay shall have the right to form or join association or societies for purposes not contrary to law.

Right to redress grievance. The kasambahay shall have the right to redress grievance and to the expeditious settlement of disputes.

All other rights not specified herein but guaranteed by the Constitution are affirmed and shall be equally afforded to the kasambahay.

For the BATAS KASAMBAHAY IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS see,  http://www.homeact.blogspot.com/2013/05/implementing-rules-and-regulations-of.html

17 comments:

  1. This will mean a reduction of Domestic employment in the municipalities and cities in the province and from among the average income earner .
    I understand that Domestic helpers needs protection and good compensation , however,most salaried employees surely can no longer afford with the added cost .

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  2. The Kasambahay Bill (House Bill 6144) has been approved by Lower house.
    Insofar as the approved minimum wage is concerned- P3000 for NCR, P2,000 in chartered cities and first class municipalities and P1,000 in other municipalities - that is nothing new, already been the on going rate for a number of years now.
    I think it is about time that domestics be given the security of SSS/Medical plans (100-300/month range).
    The other parts of the bill are just and humane treatment rightfully deserved by any worker. Just think about this- we entrust to our helpers what is most dear to us - our family and our homes. The bill consist of the minimum rights we can give to them for the important role they play. They deserve much more. Thanks..

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  3. how much would be given to those kasambahay who just give their service on appointed days only i.e. on sat and sun only

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    1. Only full time workers are covered by the batas Kasambahay

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    2. what is full time mean please elaborate the details i want to know, i gave salary 2,000 monthly, every friday i gave 500, her day off saturday and sunday, she work daily arrived from her house 6:45am and go home after work at 5pm 2x a week and 7pm. 3x aweek.

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  4. This kasambahay bill is giving wrong interpretation to some helpers. My yaya is earning 6k a month, can use my wifi and use her laptop on her free time, Now i am asking her to pay for the PSP of my child since it is her responsibility to take care of my child staff, she misplaced it! Now she's bragging the kasambahay bill. I don't have anything against this bill because i just find it practical, however it has to be presented well and explained well most specially for our helpers' comprehension. if the they want to send a bill like this, a detailed campaign has to be out and it has to be reinforced by i don't know who? It should not be the employer because it's conflicting for them. Similar to traffic rules, all jeepney drivers sometimes don't get a new traffic rule in an instant, but the MMDA and traffic enforcers are there to educate and correct them.

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    1. Cases where helpers are not treated well and are exploited (undepaid, employment of minors, poor working conditions) are far greater than employers are abused by helpers but nonetheless, the Kasambahay law actually protects both.
      One stipulation is that there needs to be an employment contract between you and helper. Now this contract may include household policies which you may want to implement provided they do not contradict the general terms of the law - i.e. - your policies regarding helper's accountabilities.
      You may think it's going to far, but we actually are beginning to implement such in households I manage. We have policies accountabilities in case of car accidents, breakages, even loans. They are positive policies which favor both parties and our staff find them logical and agree to them.
      It is normally the labor department who will be the implementing body to regulate the law because the law makes kasambahay part of our labor force.
      Anyway, I gues we will be expperiencing birth pangs regarding this law. Goodluck..

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  5. how about the working hours?there should be a limit on that.

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    1. The Batas Kasambahay mandates an 8-hour daily rest for all domestic workers. I think this is a more practical way to implement rather than setting the working hours. In practice, working hours for Kasambahys have break periods during the day and may vary from house to house depending on the lifestyle of household.
      A rest period of 8 hours assure them of having enough sleep and rest.

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  6. KASAMBAHAY LAW
    Wala Sa Lugar, Wala Sa Tamang Panahon


    Another very unreasonable law must be shouldered by Juan de la Cruz particularly the supposed to be Middle Class who by now because of our current economic situation may be rightly classified as part too of the Lowest Class or The Poor.

    Noong araw pag ikaw ay nakatapos ng kolehiyo at nakapasok sa isang opisina, malamang ikaw ay mapabilang sa tinatawag na Middle Class. Pero ngayon magkano ba ang sahod ng mga ito? Malamang ang mga baguhan ay magsisimula sa Minimum o P456/day.

    Pag ikaw ay nag-asawa, naturalmente, kailangan mo ng magsarili. Kung kayat kailangan mo na ng isang bahay na matitirahan nyong mag-asawa. Dahil wala ka pang pambili, mapipilitan kang mangupahan. Sa puntong ito atin munang sumahin ang Net Income & Basic Expenses ng mag-asawang ito.

    Minimum Salary/Day P456 X 26 = Gross Income P11,856.00. Gross Income 11,856.00 – Philhealth 137.50 – SSS 366.70 – Pag-ibig 100.00 = Monthly Individual Net Income P 11,251.80. Monthly Individual Net Income 11,251.80 X 2 = Monthly Couples Net Income P 22,503.60. House Rental 5,000.00 + Electricity 2,300.00 + Water 350.00 + Pamalengke 5,000.00 + Couples Transportation To & Fro The Office (P120 X 26 X 2 ) 6,240.00 + Couples Meal At The Office ( P80 X 26 X 2 ) 4,160.00 + Baby Milk 4,500.00 + Baby Pampers 1,600.00 + Baby Water 450.00 + Kasambahay Wage 3,000.00 = Monthly Basic Expenses P 32,600.00. Monthly Basic Expenses 32,600.00 – Monthly Couples Net Income 22,503.60 = Monthly Net Income Shortage To Basic Expenses P10,096.40.

    Note: This computation did not even include LPG Gas, Grocery Items, Baby’s Check Ups & Other Health
    Maintanance Budget, House/Car/Educational Plans, etc.

    Mapapansin natin na mas malaki ng P10,096 ang Basic Expenses kaysa Net Income. Kung kayat kailangan pa ang karagdagang halagang iyan sa Net Income ng sino man sa mag-asawa upang matustusan ang Basic Expenses. Malamang mahabang panahong paghihintay, pagsisikap, & panalangin pa ang katapat ng halagang iyan.

    Bagamat halos wala na ngang matira o kulang pa nga ang kanilang kita ay kailangan pa rin nilang kumuha ng isang kasambahay na mag-aasikaso sa bahay lalo na kung may maliit silang anak upang silang mag-asawa naman ay makapasok sa kani-kanilang opisina.

    Sa panahon ngayon, napakahirap ng kumuha ng isang kasambahay kung kayat ang amo na ang nakikisama sa kanila sa pag-asang tumagal-tagal naman ang mga ito. Bukod pa dito, mataas na ang kanilang Asking Price, pinakamababa na marahil ang P3,000.00 at madalas ay napakaabusado pa. Ilang halimbawa ang mga sumusunod:
    • Nandoong hihingan ka ng pamasahe plus finder’s fee kung may ahente, pagkatapos ay hindi naman sisipot o sisipot nga pero makalipas lang ang ilang araw ay lalayasan ka na. Paano naman ang iyong nagastos na lubhang mahalaga din sa iyo?
    • Puro cellphone na lamang ang inaatupag pag di nakaharap ang kanilang mga amo kung kayat ang kanilang mga gawain ay di na maisaayos o di na talaga ginagawa.
    • Walang ingat sa mga gamit & kasangkapan.
    • Walang pakundangan pag-aaksaya ng gasul, kuryente, tubig, pagkain, etc.
    • Pagnapagsabihan, sila pa ang galit o tuwirang lalaban pa sa kanilang amo.
    • Marami pang iba, ngunit ang higit na pinakamasama ay ang pagmaltrato sa mga alaga nilang bata o ang malakihang pagnanakaw.

    Sa kabila nito, dahil nga sa lubhang pangangailangan mo at napakahirap na ngang kumuha ng isang kasambahay, ay pagtitiyagaan mo pa rin. Susugal ka pa rin, sabay ng panalangin na “ Huwag naman sana ang pinakamasamang mangyayari”.

    Tapos ito na nga ang Kasambahay Law, dagdag pahirap sa kawawang naghihirap ding amo. Noong unang panahon na naaapi pa ang mga kasambahay sa Pilipinas, kailangan ito. Sa Saudi o sa iba pang bansa kung saan naaapi ang mga kasambahay, kailangan ito. Pero dito sa ating Bayang Pilipinas, ngayon? “ Wala Sa Lugar O Sa Tamang Panahon”.

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    1. hay buhay.. wow, thanks for effort. Lets just hope the positive news about our economy will trickle down to the improvement of the life of the masang pilipino.
      I know many workers get their kamaganak to help around the house because they wont be able to afford a helper in such condition.
      If that is the condition of a minimum wage skilled worker, it's difficult to imagine how a domestic helper earning P2500 - 3500 supports her family. Many of them suffer being separated from their kids - iwan yung anak sa probinya para bawas gastos and to be able to work. And when they are incapacitated or grow old, no insurance/pension to bank on. (And no security of tenure either).
      (...Wala Sa Lugar O Sa Tamang Panahon) I do not say this law is perfect, it needs a lot of fine tuning, madaming kailangan i clarify but I really think it is high time we have this law.
      (..madalas ay napakaabusado pa) The KL talks about issuance of employment certificates which I think will help us in the screening of hiring helps in the future.

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  7. Super agree ako sayo...Swertehan lang ang pagkuha ng kasambahay what if minalas malas ka which is madalas mangyari sa panahon ngayon, pano naman ang mga employer or should i say pano naman ang mga mababait na employer na sobra sobra kung makisama lalo na sa mga employer na may maliliit na anak na ipinagkakatiwala sa kanila? Did u ever think of that? Para sa kaalaman ninyong mga law makers kung sino man ang nakaisip nito, bukod sa malaking dagdag sa gastos ang kumuha ng kasambahay ito rin ay isang malaking sugal para sa mga employers na papasukin sa buhay at ipagkatiwala mo ang pamilya mo, lalo na ang mga anak mo, bahay mo sa taong hindi mo kilala para lang makapaghanap buhay at ng may pangtustos sa araw araw na gastusin at pangsweldo sa kasambahay. We have to accept the fact na kelangan natin sila, ang gusto ko lang iparating sa mga law makers natin na sana pag-isipang mabuti ang batas na gagawin, hindi lang sa isang direksyon nakatingin. Be FAIR!!!

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    1. I think we will really encunter a lot of issues a, problems during the first year of implementaion of the KL. I heard the DOLE is going to be open to listen to feedback for future further refinements of the law.

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  8. Kung may kasambahay law, dapat me protection din ang mga amo
    At dapat may law na pwedeipakulong ang mga nagnakaw o nagmaltrato ng mga inaalagaang mga bata, kaso wala!

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    1. That is a crime punishable by our law - Pagnanakaw or physical injury and penalty depends on the gravity of the offense pwedeng imprisonment or fine. You should report her to the police or barangay, so she will have a record on the police blotter for the rest of her life. Mahihirapan na sya makatrabaho ever, because she wont be able to get a police clearance. That way we protect the other households from being victimized.
      The Kasambahay Law also gives you the right to terminate those types of employees.

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