A LABOR leader urged employers in Negros Occidental to comply with the new wage order setting a higher salary of P3,500 per month for “kasambahays” or house helps, which took effect starting Friday, December 8.
Wennie Sancho, labor representative to the Regional Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Western Visayas, said Republic Act 10361, or “Batas Kasambahay” has lifted the dignity of domestic workers by virtue of the new wage order.
“We are urging employers to give their domestic workers the right salary that they deserve, which can be considered as their early Christmas gifts,” Sancho added.
Under Wage Order No. 2, all “kasambahays” in Western Visayas, including Negros Occidental, now have uniform monthly wage regardless of the city or municipality they are working in.
Under the previous order, which lapsed last February, domestic workers in cities and first class municipalities were prescribed to receive P2,500 per month while those in other towns were entitled to have P2,000.
Sancho had earlier said that classification, whether workers are in cities or municipalities, was somehow “confusing and discriminatory” particularly on how much will be given to them.
He pointed out that expenses of kasambahays in any locality are almost similar, and the gravity of their work is also the same thus, they all deserve to receive higher and common wage.
To ensure that the wage increase mandate for domestic workers is complied, the labor leader is also calling on anew local government units (LGUs) to establish Kasambahay Help Desk, which is also mandated by RA 10361.
Sancho said that aside from conducting start-up registration, the help desk will serve as center for the workers to report their complaints on any violations committed by their employers.
“Until now, we do not have exact data as to how many ‘kasambahays’ are there in the province which could be provided supposedly by the start-up registration among barangays,” he added.
Sancho, who is secretary-general of the General Alliance of Workers Assembly, said their group is ready to cater to complaints of “kasambahays” on non-compliance of employers with the new wage order.