Domestic worker's act should be apply and expand in the philippines

October 3, 2013 7:29am CST
In a move meant to better protect domestic workers, the Philippine Congress passed a law known as the “Domestic Workers Act” or “Batas Kasambahay”. On 18 January 2013, President Benigno Aquino III signed Republic Act No. 10361 instituting policies for the protection and welfare of domestic helpers. Considering that it equally affects the domestic helpers and the employers. But who is domestic worker or Kasambahay? Domestic worker or “Kasambahay” refers to any person engaged in domestic work within an employment relationship such as, but not limited to, the following: general house help, nursemaid or “yaya”, cook, gardener, or laundry person, but shall exclude any person who performs domestic work only occasionally or sporadically and not on an occupational basis. The law is a landmark piece of labor and social legislation that recognizes for the first time domestic workers as similar to those in the formal sector. It strengthens respect, protection, and promotion of the rights and welfare of domestic workers or kasambahay. On my own opinion this law is great not only to those domestic workers but also to the family of the workers. It’s good that they implemented this law so that the workers and the employer know about their limitations and contracts. Like for example the kasambahay will know his/her duties and responsibilities, her/his rights (Monthly minimum wage; 5 days annual service incentive leave with pay; 13th month pay and benefits like SSS etc.) Still, it's good that the law protects household help from abusive treatment. Actually, our laws have always said it's criminal to abuse any person—whether he works for you or not. And we have labor laws too. But I guess it's good that there's a special law so that we all know how our household help should be treated, which is decently and humanely. It's so sad that people have to be reminded about that.
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