MANILA – A government survey showed that only 35,455 of more than 1.4 million kasambahay or household service workers (HSWs) have a signed contract with their employers.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) conducted the survey last year and released by National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) last month.
NWPC executive director Criselda Sy said many kasambahay still have no signed contracts despite Republic Act 10361 or An Act Instituting Policies for the Protection and Welfare of Domestic Workers signed seven years ago.
“We are worried because of those who have no written since it’s been 7 years that the law is being implemented,” she said in a virtual forum on Wednesday.
The law requires a written contract between the employers and domestic workers.
Sy said the survey will be used to review the programs of the DOLE as well as other agencies that involved in the welfare of domestic workers.
“Since we have now baseline info we will have the chance to review programs of DOLE for the kasambahay and other agencies involved in the welfare of the workers,” she said.
The survey also revealed that 72 percent of the 1.4 million HSWs in the country are not living with their employers or are on live-out arrangement.
It added that 83 percent of the 1.4 million kasambahay are not covered by any social security benefit and 2 percent shouldered/paid for entire premium contribution without employers sharing in the cost.
The average monthly salary of domestic workers is PHP4,141, ranging from Php2,681 in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to Php5,958 in National Capital Region (NCR).
The survey also said only 41 percent of domestic workers are aware of RA 10361. (PNA)
