Binay hails House passage of Kasambahay Bill

Vice President and HUDCC chairman Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Vice President Jejomar Binay on Thursday welcomed the passage of the Kasambahay Bill at the House of Representatives, saying this would “ensure freedom, equity, and security” for the country’s household workers.

“Our kasambahays (household workers) deserve access to decent and humane work. I believe this bill will ensure freedom, equity and security for our country’s 1.9 million kasambahays,” Binay said in a statement.

House Bill 6144, approved on final reading by the House Wednesday, provides minimum labor standards, including minimum wage setting, regulating working hours, provision of insurance and leave benefits for household workers.

Binay also reminded employers that they were mandated to register their household workers as members of Pagibig, and they could avail themselves of multipurpose, calamity, and housing loans through membership in the Pag-ibig Fund.

“Under the law, domestic workers earning P1,500 and below shall contribute one percent of their salary, while those earning P1,500 and above, shall contribute two percent  of their salary. Their employers are required to contribute two percent as counterpart,” Binay said.

The Senate passed its counterpart measure in December 2010.

He expressed confidence that the Senate would soon be able to pass a counterpart version of the landmark measure, which has remained pending at its committee level.