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NINETEENTH CONGRESS ‘&
‘Third Regular Session QO net

House Bill No. 1 14 76

Introduced by AKBAYAN Representative Percival Cendafia

EXPLANATORY NOTE

“Kasambahay” literally means a houschold companion, our kasama sa bahay whom
generations of Filipino households have relied on for various household chores ~ cooking,
cleaning, laundry, gardening, and taking care of children, among others. Based on a
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)
survey conducted in October 2019, there are about 1.4 million Filipinos working as
asambabays

Republic Act No. 10361 or the Domestic Workers Act, or more popularly referred to as
the Kasambahay Law, was enacted on 18 January 2013. This landmark law which instituted
policies for the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of kasambahays came
in the heels of the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention No. 189 or the
Domestic Workers Convention, which the Philippines ratified on 5 September 2012.

In commemoration of the enactment of the Kasambahay Law, this bill seeks to declare a
day in honor of our kasambahays and recognize their invaluable contribution to the well-
being of families and communities across the country. The National Kasambahay Day or
Araw ng Kasambahay shall be a special non-working day for all kasambabays. It shall serve
not only as day of recognition for kasambahays, but also as a reminder to implementing
offices and agencies of the Kasambahay Law, household employers, and the general public,
to support fair wages and provide safe and healthful working conditions for an often-
marginalized sector, in pursuit of promoting the overall general welfare of our kasambahays.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

nd PSA Survey: 14 million kasambahays:
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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
‘Third Regular Session

House Bit Ns, 11476

Introduced by AKBAYAN Representative Percival Cendafia

AN ACT
DECLARING JANUARY 18 OF EVERY YEAR A SPECIAL NON-WORKING
HOLIDAY FOR ALL KASAMBAHAYS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1, Short Title. — ‘This Act shall be known as the “National Kasambahay
Day” or “Anaw ng Kasambahay” Act.

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policies. ~ It is hereby declared that the State shall protect
the workers, promote full employment and provide equal opportunities regardless of sex,
race and religious belief, and regulate policies and relations between workers and
employers. The State shall also guarantee the rights of the workers to self-organization,
collection bargaining, security of tenure, and just and humane working conditions. As
stated in the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention No. 189 or the Decent
Work for Domestic Workers Convention ratified by the Philippine government in May
2012, it is the responsibility of the State to recognize the significant contributions of
domestic workers to the local and global economy, which includes increasing paid job
‘opportunities for women and men with family responsibilities, and greater scope for caring
for ageing populations, children, and persons with disability.

Sec. 3. Definition of Kasambahay. ~ A kasambabay or domestic worker as
defined in Republic Act (RA) No. 10361 or Batas Kasambahay refers to any person engaged
in domestic work within an employment relationship such as, but not limited to, the
following: general house help, nursemaid or “yaya”, cook, gardener, or laundry person, but
shall exclude any person who performs domestic work only occasionally or sporadically

and not on an occupational basis.


Sec. 4. National Kasambahay Day or Araw ng Kasambahay. — In recognition
of the contribution of domestic workers to Filipino families and society in general, January
18 of every year is hereby declared as a special non-working holiday for all kasambahays
and shall be known as the National Kasambahay Day or Araw ng Kasambahay.

In the event that this day falls on their rest day, the employer shall pay the
corresponding salary or compensation for the asambahays who will be required to work
on this day, in compliance with the relevant provisions of RA No. 10361 or Batas
Kasambabay.

Sec. 5. Role of Relevant Government Agencies
and Employment (DOLE), in coordination with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA),

— The Department of Labor

shall lead in the national observance of the National Kasambahay Day or Anaw ng
Kasambabay.

‘The heads of all departments, agencies, government-owned and controlled
corporations, local government units, and other governmental instrumentalities shall
support the DOLE in its activities related to the observance of the National Kasambahay
Day ot Araw ng Kasambahay.

Sec. 6. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,