House ratifies Kasambahay bill

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives on Monday ratified the Kasambahay bill which seeks to provide social benefits for domestic helpers.

Lawmakers, after reaching a quorum with 174 members present during session, ratified the proposed measure which sets the  monthly minimum wage of household help to P2,500 within the National Capital Region, P2,000 for those within chartered cities and first class municipalities, and P1,500 for those in other municipalities.

Under the reconciled bill, house helpers will be provided with social benefits as members of the Social Security System, PhilHealth, and Pag-Ibig Fund.

Aurora Representative Juan Edgardo Angara recently said that these benefits will be shouldered by employers of domestic helpers earning below P,5000. Contributions for SSS and Pag-Ibig Fund will be shared with employer by those earning more than P5,000.

But for both cases, PhilHealth contributions will be shouldered in full by the employer.

The bill will also provide domestic helpers with at least a year of service an annual incentive leave of five days with pay as well as 13^th-month pay.

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards will be mandated to look into the minimum wage rates a year after it takes effect, as agreed upon by the bicameral conference committee earlier this month.

Angara, one of the authors of the bill at the House of Representatives, said over Twitter that the Kasambahay bill was now up for President Benigno Aquino III’s approval.