CLARK FREEPORT -- The monthly minimum wage for household helpers or "kasambahays" for chartered cities and first-class municipalities in Central Luzon has been raised to P4,500.
Ma. Zenaida Angara-Campita, chief of the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole)-Central Luzon and chairwoman of the Regional Wage Board, said the wage hike order takes effect January 1, 2020, which is 15 days after its publication on December 17, 2019.
Under Wage Order RBIII-DW-02, household service workers (HSWs) in chartered cities and first-class municipalities who receive the previous monthly minimum wage of P4,000 will now receive P4,500. Those in other municipalities in Central Luzon are entitled to a minimum of P4,000 monthly from their previous rate of P3,500.
"After holding public hearings, wage reviews, and deliberations, the board found it necessary and timely to increase not only the prevailing minimum wage in the region but also the monthly salary of our kasambahays," Campita said.
"This is in addition to the other mandatory benefits such as SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-ibig coverage that they are also entitled to," she added.
The wage order covers all workers who regularly perform domestic work in one household on an occupational basis, whether live-in or live-out arrangement. It does not include service providers, family driver, children under foster family arrangement, and others who perform work occasionally or sporadically and not on an occupational basis.
Prior to Wage Order RBIII-DW-02, the last wage hike for HSWs in Central Luzon was Wage Order RBIII-DW-01, issued and effective in 2017.
Dole-Central Luzon also reminded workers, including domestic workers, that they may file a complaint against their employers who violate or refuse to abide by the minimum wage hikes.