The National Capital Region Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (NCR-TWPB) has approved an additional P1,000 in the monthly wages of domestic workers in Metro Manila.
“Our wage infuses for our kasambahays of additional P1,000 a month, bringing the monthly take home of our kasambahays in NCR to P6,000 a month,” Department of Labor and Employment Director Rolly Francia said in a report by Tina Panganiban-Perez on GMA News “24 Oras” on Wednesday.
An estimated 200,000 household helpers in Metro Manila will benefit from the wage increase as a result of rising commodity prices.
“Siyempre po masaya kasi dagdag panggastos din po iyon. Tapos makakatulong din po sa pinapadala kong budget sa Bicol… malaking halaga na ang P1,000 dahil marami ka nang mabibili,” said helper Joanne Del Castillo.
Labor Secretary Silvestro Bello III admitted that the P1,000 wage increase was not enough.
“In fact, sabi ko nga ‘yung increase to P6,000 eh napakababa pa ‘yon. Kasi sabi ko nga ngayon, nagbabayad na ako ng pitong (kasambahay) eh ‘di ba kasi ‘yung pagkakaroon ng kasambahay is not a necessity. To me, it’s just a luxury eh,” said Bello.
The decision of the NCR-TWPB will be reviewed by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWCP), which will meet on Thursday.
Once the NWCP approves the NCR-TWPB decision, it will be published and take effect after 15 days.
NCR-TWPB approves P1,000 salary increase for household helpers
According to the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA), there are 1,864,065 private household workers nationwide.
Recently, P500 to P2,500 minimum wages were approved for workers depending on the region.
Many Filipinos need two to three jobs to provide for their families, according to the Commission on Population and Development (Popcom).
According to Popcom Executive Director Juan Antonio Perez III, just one job with a minimum wage is no longer enough to support a family.
Popcom added that the data is worrying that the number of Filipino families below the poverty line or those who can be considered poor earning less than P12,000 per month has increased.
In Metro Manila, the minimum wage will be raised to P570 per day next month. However, it is said to be scarce according to some labor groups who say that the salary should be more than one thousand pesos per day for a family of five to live decently.
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