By Rene V. Carbayas
ISABELA CITY, Basilan – Two
separate forums on Kasambahay Law were held recently in the city to raise
public consciousness on Republic Act 10361 that institutes policies for the
protection and welfare of domestic workers.
City Administrator Ramon Nuñal said during
the forum that “this advocacy initiated by DOLE is an attempt to educate the
public through the help of the stakeholders and the barangay officials, most
importantly, whose role is crucial to the success of implementing the law.”
“I know we will not be 100 percent successful
in our advocacy, especially among employers. Many of whom will circumvent the
law and many will still refuse to obey the law. Therefore it is a challenge for
us. The law identified the role of the barangay leaders to come up with a data
base,” he said.
Enrico C. Flores, SSS Basilan branch head
revealed that as of July 5 only 8 employers and 9 “kasambahays” (househelps) have voluntarily registered at the SSS in
the city.
Recognizing the limited manpower of the local
labor department, Nuñal said that the data gathered from the barangays will
greatly help monitor and enforce the law and that the data will be very useful
for the Social Security System, Pag-IBIG and PhiHealth.
Cyrus P. Tingcang of DOLE region 9 said that “the
law protects both the employer and employee as each is now bound with a
contract where the obligation of each is stipulated.”
Tingcang stressed that barangays must
establish a Kasambahay desk where the registry of household workers in the
barangay is set up to facilitate rescue of distressed workers.
Engr. Wesley D. Tan, officer-in-charge of
DOLE Isabela City Field Office said that “R.A. 10361 is the fulfillment of the
Philippine’s commitment and obligation to afford greater protection to domestic
household service worker (Kasambahay) and the Philipines ratified ILO
convention 189 known as Decent Work for Domestic Workers in 2012.”
Dubbed “learning session on Kasambahay Law,”
DOLE-Isabela City conducted forums on July 5 and 16 for barangay chairpersons
and selected officials, including various government line agencies and the
local government unit of Isabela, and for the kasambahays and their employers, respectively.
During the sessions salient features of the
law were discussed, including obligations of employers and Kasambahays to SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG. TESDA also introduced
its programs that may help kasambahays
enhance their skills. (PIA9)