Kasambahay wage increase welcomed

FFW president Sonny Matula says that the data from the National Wages and Productivity Commission showed the highest paid domestic workers now are those located in cities and first-class municipalities in Region 1 or the Ilocos Region.

The Federation of Free Workers (FFW) on Friday expressed its elation and welcomed the increase in the minimum wage of domestic workers in Metro Manila, saying it was long overdue.

“We welcome the increase in the minimum wage of kasambahays in Metro Manila by P1, 500.00,” said FFW president Sonny Matula in a statement. “It is long overdue. Domestic workers in the National Capital Region were already left behind compared to other regions.”

Matula explained that the data from the National Wages and Productivity Commission showed the highest paid domestic workers now are those located in cities and first-class municipalities in Region 1 or the Ilocos Region as their minimum wage is P4,500 per month on average.

“This is a breath of fresh air for Christmas for our Kasambahays,” Matula said.

From the P3,500 monthly salary since 2017, kasambays will be paid an added P1,500 and based on the approved wage order, the minimum monthly salary of kasambahays in NCR shall be P5,000.

Other cities and first-class municipalities in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR); Region 3 or Central Luzon; and Region 6 or Western Visayas have higher basic wages than NCR. Domestic workers have an average salary of P4,000 a month.

“Thank you to the RTWPB of NCR for acting with dispatch, and approving the new minimum wage increase by P1,500 for kasambahays in Metro Manila before Christmas,” Matula said.