In a televised public briefing, DOLE-Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns (BWSC) Director Ahmma Charisma Lobrin-Satumba said there are less than 10 percent of the 1.4 million domestic workers that have employment contracts with their employers.
“Out of 1.4 million kasambahays, merely 2.5 percent have employment contracts. This is around 35,000 only while 1.36 million have no written employment contracts,” Satumba said.
Section 11 of the Republic Act No. 10361 states that “an employment contract should be executed between the domestic worker and the employer before the commencement of the service.”
She said there remains a low number of domestic workers that have premium contributions to Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-Ibig).
“It is also a concern to us the low coverage among social protection agencies. About 83 percent of the 1.4 million are not yet covered,” said Satumba.
The Kasambahay Law also provides that a domestic worker, who has rendered at least one month of service, shall be covered by SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-Ibig with the premium contributions to be shouldered by the employer.
Because of this, the labor official said there is a need for the government to enhance their advocacy for compliance to RA 10361.
“We will be intensifying our advocacy so that both the employers and kasambahays will be aware of these,” said Satumba.
It was back in June 2013 when the Kasambahay Law took effect, or almost a year after it was signed into law in July 2012. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)