MANILA - Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello on Thursday proposed a P6,000 standard salary for domestic workers.
According to Bello, he has ordered other officials of the Department of Labor and Employment to study whether the P6,000 wage can be implemented for domestic workers nationwide.
The secretary believes that such a wage is sufficient for domestic workers.
“As for the maids, that is just a proposal of P6,000. But I, I think the P6,000 is reasonable, ”Bello said in a virtual press briefing.
If the employer is not able to afford such a wage, he said, it would be better for them not to hire a maid and do the housework.
“If you can’t afford the P6,000, don’t hire an assistant. You will clean your house, you will clean your car, you will bathe your cats or your dogs, ”said Bello.
“Don’t hire [a] housemaid for a very meager amount of P3,000, that is too low, ”he added.
According to Bello, every year there is a wage adjustment but it would have been better if the salaries of the maids in Metro Manila and the provinces were the same.
Meanwhile, Bello also reminded employers about providing 13th month pay, which should not be later than December 24.
All workers who have worked for one month at the company are eligible for the 13th month pay, he said.
- Report by Johnson Manabat, ABS-CBN News