Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday, October 26, told household service workers or kasambahays that she will back the full implementation of Republic Act 10361 or the Kasambahay Law to provide protection and support for them against abuse, low wages, and lack of benefits.
She has long supported the law, believing it to be the best way to assure that household helpers will get what is due them. In particular, she wants a stronger economy and better governance that will protect the rights of the household helpers, especially the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who eventually want to go home and retire.
“Matagal na namin sinusupport yung Kasambahay Act. Matagal na namin sinusupport ‘yung lahat ng social services na available sa inyo (We have long supported the Kasambahay Act. We have long supported for all social services to be available for you),” she said during a virtual meeting with them.
“Yun iyong pinagtatrabahuhan natin ngayon na sana mayroon tayong choice. Sana habang nanunungkulan tayo, ‘yung pamahalaan, ‘yung mga batas natin binibigyan tayo ng sapat na support system para naaasikaso hindi lang tayo pero iyong mga pamilyang iniiwan natin dahil nagtatrabaho tayo sa iba. (That’s what we are working for so we can have a choice. Hopefully, while we are working, the government, our laws will give us enough support system to protect not only us but the families we left behind),” Robredo added.
There are a lot of household helpers abroad who couldn’t go home because of the lack of opportunities here, she lamented.
During their online meeting, the Vice President discussed the Kasambahay Law with the household service workers, telling them that it provides basic rights for them.
The Kasambahay Law sets the minimum wage for a helper at P5,000 currently in the National Capital Region (NCR) and ranges from P2,000 to P5,000 in other regions.
READ: Bello pushing for national minimum wage for ‘Kasambahays’
But Robredo is saddened by the fact that a lot of kasambahays do not receive the basic needs as mandated by the law.
“Hindi lahat ng kasambahay, hindi lahat nagtatrabaho sa household kasing palad nyo. Marami kayong kasama na hindi nabibigyan ng pagkakataon. Hindi nabibigyan ng sapat na mga tulong habang matagal na sa serbisyo (Not all household helpers, not all who work in households are as lucky as you. A lot of your peers are not being given the opportunity. They are not getting enough help while they’ve long been working),” she explained.
Robredo, who is seeking the country’s highest post next year with running mate Senator Kiko Pangilinan, said the law is important because the employer will be obliged to follow it or risk punishment.