San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada thanked President Benigno Aquino III for reportedly having already signed into law the Domestic Workers' Act, or the Kasambahay Act, a press release from his office said yesterday.

"I'm very thankful to President Aquino for his concern over the plight of household helpers,” Ejercito Estrada said.

"This is the best gift we can give at the start of the new year for these hardworking men and women who tend to our homes and take care of our children," he added.

The Kasambahay Act ensures the rights and welfare of the estimated 2 million household helps all over the country and also pegs their minimum salaries, the press release said.

Under the new law, the minimum salary of a domestic helper is pegged at P2,500 in Metro Manila, P2,000 in chartered cities and first-class municipalities, and P1,500 in the rest of the country, it added.

The law orders the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board to determine succeeding salary increases following consultations with stakeholders, the press release said.

Apart from monetary compensation, which includes a 13th-month pay, the law also mandates employers to enroll their househelpers in Social Security System, Philhealth, and Pag-ibig Fund and to pay part of their monthly contribution, it also said.

Also, domestic helpers should be afforded at least eight hours of rest every day and a day off a week, the press release said.

The San Juan lawmaker, as vice chairman of the Committee on Labor, is among those who shepherded the bill through the House of Representatives, the press release also said.*

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