The Kasambahay Bill

I want to commend my schoolmate, Rep. Emmeline Aglipay of Democratic Independent Workers Association (DIWA) for authoring the proposed Magna Carta of Household Helpers (House Bill 1815) or more popularly known as the Kasambahay Bill.

This Kasambahay Bill protect the rights of our kasambahay (household help), giving them regulated working hours, rest days and benefits.

See the content of the bill below which I read fromthis certain Yahoo! news page:


Under the bill, a duly notarized and signed employment contract shall be executed by and between the employer and the helper before the start of the work, in a dialect or language understandable to both parties. The bill requires the employment contract to include the following:
   -a period of employment not more than two years for initial service and renewable annually; 
   -monthly compensation and mode of payment; 
   -allowable leave, rest day and holidays; 
   -working hours, rest periods and day off; 
   -living quarters and food and medical provisions; 
   -duties and responsibilities; 
   -Social Security System and PhilHealth contributions; 
   -and annual salary increases. 


Any stipulation that the service of a helper is without compensation should be considered void. The bill proposes that the minimum salary of household helpers be not lower than P3,500 a month in Metro Manila; P3,000 in chartered cities and first-class municipalities; and P2,000 in other municipalities. Such salaries should be in addition to the helper’s lodging, food and medical attendance. All household helpers should also be entitled to 13th-month pay, equivalent to a month’s basic salary. The helpers should also be covered by SSS and PhilHealth. 


The bill states that the normal hours of work for a kasambahay(househelp) shall not exceed 10 hours a day, exclusive of a one hour break each breakfast, lunch and dinner. All work done beyond the normal hours shall be duly compensated. Household helpers will also be allowed eight hours of continuous rest per day. 


Helpers who have rendered one year of service will be entitled to an annual 14 days vacation leave with pay. They will also be granted maternity and paternity leave. Employers should also allow helpers aged 18 and above to pursue their education. The cost of the education shall be shouldered by the helper. Violators of the provisions will be liable for damages, from P5,000 to P20,000, apart from other possible penal or civil liabilities under the Revised Penal Code

Makatarungan right?! This bill could lessen (if not remove) those maltreatment / anti-human rights cases committed by the mean employers to these poor maids.

I remember Girlie telling me a story about our previous neighbor's maid:

The maid's salary daw is only 500 pesos a month. The maid was medyo aanga-anga (gullible) so she agreed. However, during pay day, her amo (the girl) would require the maid to play tong-its with her with pustahan. The amo will get mad if she refuses. The thing is the maid doesn't know how to play tong-its so obviously after every session, the maid's salary ends up back with the amo. Mean no?!

I hope the President approves this bill nang mabawas bawasan na mga salbahe sa mundo.

Agree?

P.S.

Parang I want na Rep. Aglipay to be the first one to cut Anika's hair.. Beauty and brains eh.. Not a bad combination! (and besides, mahal pamasahe papuntang America!)