Group seeks P300 monthly increase in pay of domestic helpers

BACOLOD CITY—A workers’ group is calling for an increase in the salary of domestic helpers in Western Visayas by P10 a day, or P300 a month.

Wennie Sancho, executive officer of General Alliance of Worker’s Association (Gawa) and labor representative of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board, said he would bring up his proposal during the wage board meeting on Feb. 14.

Republic Act No. 10361, or the Domestic Workers Act, has set the minimum wage for domestic helpers at P2,000 a month.

Sancho said that with P2,000 monthly pay, domestic helpers earn only P66 daily.

He said there was a need for a P300 monthly increase in domestic helpers’ salaries to help them cope with the rising prices of basic goods.

Gawa, according to Sancho, is also urging the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to strictly monitor compliance with the Domestic Workers Act and the registration of domestic helpers in the villages where they are working.

“But the big question is that is the DOLE monitoring compliance with their minimum  wage? I mean seriously?” Sancho said.

He said domestic helpers were not organized, so they had no bargaining power.

Because of this, organized labor groups, like Gawa, should take up the cudgels for domestic helpers, Sancho said.