House Bill (HB) 227 or the proposed Caregivers Welfare Act has been approved by the House of Representatives on second reading.
The measure, which was principally authored by Bataan 1st district Rep. Geraldine Roman, was approved during the plenary session Wednesday, Nov. 9.
“Professional and responsive care giving is very vital to medically and physically challenged individuals. The country’s aging population, the increase in the number of children born with medical issues and prevalent illnesses are the reasons why the demand for caregiving service continues to rise in the Philippines,” the bill's explanatory note read.
Under the bill, caregivers can enjoy greater employment benefits, security, as well as protection from abuse and harassment.
A caregiver is defined as a “graduate of a caregiving course from an accredited training institution that is recognized by the government or is certified competence by that same institution, and renders caregiving services as stipulated in Section 6 of this act".
Contracts–defining duties, period of employment, compensation, work hours, deductions, off days, lodging, termination, and other conditions–between caregivers and employers or private employment agencies (PEAs) are protected by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Caregivers who suffer abuse, including verbal abuse, inhuman treatment, commission of a crime against them, or violation of terms of the contract, at the hands of employers of PEAs may terminate their employment contracts at any time.
The DOLE and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) are directed to promulgate the bill’s implementing rules and regulations.