THE Federation of Free Workers (FFW) yesterday called on all barangays in the country to have domestic workers in their areas registered as provided under Republic Act No. 10361 or the “Kasambahay” law.
In a statement, the FFW said barangay officials should “intensify the registration of kasambahays in their respective jurisdiction,” pointing out that under the law, all employers must register all domestic workers under their employment in the Registry of Domestic Workers in the barangay where the employer’s residence is located.
The FFW said that data from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shows that there are merely 32,902 kasambahays registered nationwide.
Records also show that only 3,359 out of the more than 42,000 barangays nationwide have their kasambahay registration data.
“This is a clear indication that the Kasambahay law is not being followed,” the labor group said.
Meanwhile, the FFW welcomed the issuances of wage orders for domestic workers in 14 out of 16 regions in the country.
“These will be a big help to the families of the domestic workers, especially since prices of all basic commodities are also rising,” said FFW.
The respective regional wage boards of Western Visayas, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Mimaropa, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Visayas, Bicol Region, Northern Mindanao, Central Luzon, Davao Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Eastern Visayas, Caraga, and the National Capital Region have already issued wage orders for kasambahays.
Only the regional wage boards of Calabarzon and Soccsksargen have yet to order an increase in minimum wage rates for kasambahays.
