Lawmakers from the Akbayan Party-list have filed a measure seeking to enhance wages, improve working conditions, and expand benefits for domestic workers, including those hired via digital platforms.
House Bill (HB) No. 11764, which proposes critical amendments to the existing Kasambahay Law, is spearheaded by Akbayan Representative Perci Cendaña alongside fellow representatives Chel Diokno, Dadah Kiram Ismula, and Dinagat Islands Lone District Representative Kaka Bag-ao.
According to Cendaña, the bill aims to guarantee fair pay, sufficient rest periods, and robust workplace protections for domestic employees.
The filing coincided with statements released ahead of the International Day of Care and Support. Emphasizing the essential role of domestic workers, Cendaña stated:
“Again, our care workers deserve care too.”
“Deserve niyo ng alaga na higit pa sa kaya ninyong ibigay. Deserve niyong akbayan sa laban para sa mas makatarungang sahod, mas makataong oras ng paggawa, at mas maayos na kondisyon sa trabaho,” he added.
Key Provisions of House Bill No. 11764:
- Broader Coverage: The bill expands the legal classification of kasambahays to include house caretakers, private household drivers, live-in and live-out workers, part-time and hourly workers serving multiple employers, and individuals hired through private firms and online matching platforms.
- Standardized Work Hours: It proposes a structured schedule comprising an eight-hour workday, eight hours of rest, and eight hours of sleep, alongside stricter limits on overtime and reinforced weekly rest days.
- Equitable Compensation: Minimum wage rates for domestic workers would be aligned with regional standards established for workers in service or retail businesses employing 15 or fewer staff members.
- Labor Rights and Contracts: The measure upholds domestic workers’ freedom of association and unionizing rights, mandates detailed and uniform employment contracts, and outlaws all recruitment or finder’s fees.
- Enhanced Social Protection: It streamlines access to mandatory benefits from the Social Security System (SSS), PhilHealth, and the Pag-IBIG Fund, while proposing a centralized identification system for care professionals.
Cendaña emphasized that these legislative changes are vital to ensuring that domestic workers receive the dignity, protection, and compensation befitting their labor.