Househelp bill suffers setback in bicam over wage provision

Senate labor chairman Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Is P3,000 a month too much for a maid’s salary?

Perhaps, for middle income earners, it is.

And this is the main issue that’s keeping the House Bill 6144, or the Kasambahay Bill, from being tackled in a bicameral conference committee meant to reconcile disagreeing provisions in the Senate and House versions.

“I already called [Speaker Feliciano Belmonte]. I asked if he could tell [the congressmen involved] that if we can’t discuss this in the bicam soon, we are already moving on to discuss the budget when we resume until December,” said Senate President Tempore Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada said.

Estrada said Congress only has two weeks in January before it again goes on recess.

The campaign period would then start a few more weeks afterwards.

“There’s no more time to tackle it. If this isn’t tackled, then we start from scratch. I’m already tired. In every Congress, I always get this passed. Then we will have another set of senators again who are not privy to this bill. It will again take time,” Estrada said.

Estrada said he was told that House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales of Mandaluyong wanted the wage boards to determine the minimum salary for household helpers.

“That’s the only provision that we have yet to agree on,” Estrada said.

Estrada said he understands Gonzales’ point since P3,000 a month could be a huge dent on the budget for middle income earners like public school teachers, who also need the assistance of household helpers.

But he indicated he’d push for the benefit passed by the Senate for the household helpers.

“I will fight for and defend the Senate version. The P3,000 applies here in Metro Manila; P2,500 in municipalities outside Metro Manila; P2,000 for fourth, fifth and sixth class municipalities,” Estrada said.