‘Pambansang Day Off’ for househelps sought

Labor groups and domestic workers urged President Rodrigo Duterte to declare a “nationwide day off” to allow employers to accompany their househelps in registering for social security, health and housing coverages.

Philippine Campaign to Promote Decent Work for Domestic Workers Technical Working Group (Domestic Work TWG) wants June 12 declared as “Pambansang Day Off.”

“We want domestic workers across the country to take the day off on June 12 so that they can register for SSS (Social Security System), PhilHealth (Philippine Health Insurance Corp.) and Pag-Ibig (Home Development Mutual Fund) together with their employers,” said Julius Cainglet, vice president of Federation of Free Workers (FFW), one of trade union members of Domestic Work TWG.

The groups made the appeal in a press conference on Saturday in Manila, aimed at raising awareness on domestic workers’ rights to inclusive social security coverage.

Poor enforcement

Among the activities scheduled for June 12 were the national registration of domestic workers, accompanied by their employers, for membership in the SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-Ibig Fund.

Domestic Work TWG said only 10 percent of 2 million domestic workers were registered with the SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-Ibig.

They cited data which showed that the SSS has 158,567 registered domestic workers, PhilHealth with 60,603 and Pag-Ibig with 86,562 as of September 2015.