MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 20, 2012) – The House of Representatives have approved the consolidated version of the Domestic Workers Act of 2012 and if passed into law, it would benefit over 2 millions household workers.
The Visayan Foundation praised lawmakers for the approval of the so-called ‘Batas Kasambahay’ on November 19.
“The Bicameral approval of the Batas Kasambahay brings us closer to a new era for more than 2 million domestic workers who will now have the opportunity for decent work and a chance to escape poverty through their own hard work,” Maria Cecilia Oebanda, President of Visayan Forum Foundation, said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.
The Senate and the House panel agreed on provisions on minimum wage and on protection of children engaged in domestic work – breaking a two-month deadlock that delayed the passage of the much-awaited Bill.
The Committee agreed to peg the minimum wage of domestic workers at P2,500 per month for the National Capital Region, P2,000 for chartered cities and first class municipalities, and P1,500 for other municipalities.
Sonny Matula, President of the Federation of Free Workers, also hailed the House approval of the proposal. “Trade unionists welcome with elation this historic legislation. This is a milestone for the workers movement. After 15 years of lobbying, our domestic workers are now included to have rights as that with other workers and their invisible work at home is now recognized,” he said in the same statement.
Lilibeth Masamloc, President of SUMAPI, a national association of domestic workers, said: “We find the provisions of the Bill fair to both domestic workers and employers. We merely wanted to have a fair share from the fruits of our labor.”
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