The DILG in coordination with City Gender and Development Office and City Public Employment Service Office conducted Orientation on Republic Act 10163 known as the Domestic Welfare Act or Kasambahay Law to the Barangay officials of this city, whose role is crucial to the success of implementing this law last August 29, 2013.
City Director Remedios Rodriguez discussed the DILG MC No.2013-61 re: Guidelines on the Barangay Registration of Kasambahay. She emphasized that barangays must establish a Kasambahay desk for the registry of household workers in the barangay and maintain Kasambahay masterlist.
DOLE Regional Kasambahay Focal Person Ma. Regina Agustin, discussed the salient features of the Law. She said this law was signed into law last January 18, the Kasambahay Law is expected to benefit at least 2.5 million household workers in the country.
The new legislation entitles domestic workers — as defined by law — to benefits such as a set minimum wage, paid leaves, and coverage in insurance programs such as the Social Security System (SSS) and PhilHealth.
It also seeks to formalize transactions between employers and workers, with the law requiring an employment contract, pay slips, and even a certificate of employment.
The Kasambahay law serves as the country's compliance mechanism to the International Labor Organizations (ILO) Domestic Workers Convention (C189) which "extends the ILO standards to a sector that continues to be poorly regulated and remains largely part of the informal economy."
Representative from the SSS and the PhilHeath discussed the social- protection benefits and medical care benefits while the housing and provident fund benefits under the government housing and mutual benefit fund were discussed by Pag-ibig staff.
