THE Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Western Visayas has scheduled two public hearings on the proposed wage increase for domestic workers or "kasambahays" in the region, including Negros Occidental.
Wennie Sancho, labor representative to the RTWP-Western Visayas, said they have set the public hearings in Iloilo City and Bacolod City on February 26 and 28, respectively.
Sancho said the members of the Board, during their meeting in Iloilo City last January 10, agreed to proceed with the public hearing instead of having public consultations.
"Public consultation will take time. Anyways, it is just a form of information dissemination, and not really a requirement," he said, adding that it is the public hearing that is required.
Wage Order No. 2, which already lapsed last December 8, prescribed a minimum wage rate of P3, 500 per month for domestic workers in the region.
The order removed the classification of "kasambahays" as all are receiving the same wage rate regardless of whether they are working in cities or different classes of municipalities.
It replaced the previous Wage Order where domestic workers in cities and first class municipalities are prescribed to receive P2, 500 per month while those in other towns are entitled to have P2, 000.
This means that the salary of domestic workers in cities and first class municipalities previously increased by P1, 000 per month. Those in other towns was P1, 500.
After the public hearings, the Wage Board will deliberate as to how much will be the increase.
With the new proposal, the increase will range from P800 to P1, 000 per month.
Once approved, all "kasambahays" are entitled to receive a monthly wage of up to P4, 500.
"The labor sector will stand up for the approval of the P1, 000 increase," said Sancho, also the secretary-general of General Alliance of Workers Association (Gawa).
Moreover, the Board has yet to publish a notice on the conduct of public hearing 15 days before its schedule.
The public hearing allows both parties, management, and labor, to present petition or opposition if there's any.
Within 45 days after the conclusion of the last public hearing, the Board shall issue a new Wage Order.
Sancho, however, said normally it only takes 10 days for them to decide especially if there's no opposition.
"We see no legal impediments as to wage increase for ‘kasambahays’ thus, the issuance of the new Wage Order might take less than the prescribed number of days," he added.
The problem, however, is on the implementation side.
The labor leader claimed that the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) is having difficulties in monitoring whether "kasambahays" are really given the right salary.
"So we are urging employers to follow the guidelines," Sancho said, as he also urged workers to report violations made by their employers.
Under the existing Wage Order, withholding and interference in the disposal of wages of the domestic workers are declared unlawful and shall be punishable.
Fine is at least P10, 000 but not more than P40, 000 without prejudice to the filing of the appropriate civil or criminal action by the aggrieved party.
The order applies to all domestic workers, whether on a live-in or live-out arrangement, such as but not limited to general househelp, "yaya," cook, gardener, laundry person, and any person who regularly performs work in one household on an occupational basis.
It does not cover service providers, family drivers, children under the foster family arrangement, and any other person who performs work occasionally or sporadically and not on an occupational basis, it added. (EPN)