Wage increase for kasambahays in EV takes effect on New Year’s Day

By NORMA RAE S. COSTIMIANO
January 14, 2020

TACLOBAN CITY – DOLE RO VIII Regional Director Yahya A. Centi announced during the First Flag-Raising Ceremony and Monday program on January 6, 2020 that a new wage order for kasambahays in Eastern Visayas takes effect on January 1, 2020.

Wage Order No. RBVIII-DW-02 prescribes an increase of P2000 in the monthly wage rates of kasambahay workers in Region VIII. For chartered cities and first class municipalities, the new minimum wage shall now be P4,500 while kasambahays in other municipalities will be having a minimum wage of P4,000.

Director Centi, who also chairs the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) VIII, was happy to inform of the said development. He said that the amount of increase was a result of the consultation cum public hearing conducted on November 25, 2019, as well as the current socio-economic indicators, needs of the domestic workers and their families and the employer’s capacity to pay.

Director Centi likewise added that the kasambahay workers deserve the said increase considering that the previous domestic wage order has not been reviewed and revisited since its issuance in 2016.

“We are more than happy that we are able to perform our duty for the good of our kasambahay workers here in the region. They truly deserve the increase considering that no adjustment has been made to their wages in the last three years and yet prices of goods have been increasing”, said Director Centi.

The new wage order shall apply to the following domestic workers in the region whether on a live-in or live-out arrangements: general househelp, yaya, cook, gardener, laundry person or any person who regularly performs domestic work in one household on an occupational basis.

Meanwhile, service providers, family drivers, children under foster family arrangements and any other person who performs work occasionally or sporadically are not covered under the said wage order.