AFTER the last of the two public hearings on the proposed wage increase for “kasambahays” in Western Visayas conducted in Bacolod City Thursday, February 28, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Western Visayas will now deliberate the proposals raised by stakeholders.
Wennie Sancho, labor representative to the RTWPB in Western Visayas, said a group proposed to place under status quo the move to increase the monthly salary of domestic workers in the region.
During the first public hearing in Iloilo City on Tuesday, February 26, some groups also objected the increase and moved for the same proposal.
Sancho said other proposals included P500 and P1,000 increase per month. The latter was pushed by non-government organization and labor advocate Voice of the Free, formerly called Visayan Forum.
“The Wage Board has yet to consolidate the results of the public hearings during the two deliberations scheduled before March 15,” he said.
“We could expect a decision in the middle of the month,” he added.
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 salary of domestic workers in cities and first class municipalities previously increased by P1,000 per month. Those in other towns was P1,500.
With the new proposal, the increase may range from P500 to P1,000 per month.
Once approved, all “kasambahays” are entitled to receive a monthly wage of up to P4,500.
Sancho, also the secretary general of General Alliance of Workers Association, said the labor sector will stand up for the P1,000 increase.
As representatives of the labor sector, Sancho said they will stand in favor of the “kasambahays.”
Thus, they will oppose to the status quo proposal as “kasambahays deserve to have a pay hike.”
“We observed that there's lack of information dissemination on Republic Act 10361, or the Domestic Workers Law, including the implementation of ‘kasambahay’ desk,” he added.
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 house help, “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 foster family arrangement, and any other person who performs work occasionally or sporadically and not on occupational basis.