AFTER nearly two decades, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is now considering increasing the required minimum wage rate for Filipino household service workers (HSWs).
In a statement, the DMW said that talks are now underway for the increase of $100 to the current $400 minimum wage rate in hiring HSWs for foreign employers.
“Recognizing the impact of inflation and the evolving cost of living, an across-the-board increase in the minimum wage for our household service workers from $400 to at least $500 is being put on the table,” said Migrant Workers Undersecretary Jainal Rasul.
“(This is) to ensure our workers receive just, decent, and dignified compensation,” he added.
“The proposal to raise the minimum wage is undergoing several consultations with employers, industry partners, and stakeholders,” said Rasul.
The current $400 minimum wage for HSWs was set under the 2006 HSW Policy Reform Package of the then Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
The said policy seeks to protect HSWs by ensuring that they receive a fair wage and other benefits.
Recently, the Coalition of Land-based Agencies for Domestic and Skilled Workers Inc. (Clads) raised the possibility of increasing the minimum salary of HSWs.
The recruitment industry raised its proposal to the DMW, saying an increase is long overdue.
“The increase of the minimum salary from $400 to $500 is in view of the rising cost of living for the families of the HSWs,” it said.
“For the past almost two decades, the HSWs have been remitting a bigger portion of the $400 to their families for monthly expenses of education, food, utilities, and miscellaneous expenses,” added Clads.
