SEN. Raffy Tulfo yesterday slammed the Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the Home Development Mutual Fund (PAG IBIG) for their supposed slow compliance with Republic Act 10361, or the “Batas Kasambahay” law.
Citing a 2019 joint survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Tulfo noted that out of the 1.4 million registered domestic or household workers in the country, only six percent or 84,190 have been enrolled by their employers with the SSS, while only five percent or 74,858 are registered with the PhilHealth. Only three percent or 51,579 are with PAGIBIG.
“These agencies are not doing enough to ensure that employers in the country have registered and have been paying the SSS, PhilHealth and PAGIBIG contributions of their kasambahay (house helpers) ,” he said.
Tulfo also complained about the alleged failure of barangay officials to register housemaids in their jurisdiction, knowing that some employers are too busy to attend to such responsibility.
“Why is it that they can go house-to-house campaign during election period but are unable to go door-to-door to survey households with kasambahays and ensure the implementation of the law,” he asked.
Under the law, employers are required to register their household help under their employment in the barangays where their residence is located.
The barangay chairman is responsible for the registry of the house helps within his or her jurisdiction.
