Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL'NO. __ 83

Introduced by Honorable Jose Carlos L. Cari

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to uplift the minimum standard of living of all househelpers
by increasing their monthly minimum wage rate and requiring their mandatory
membership in the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) under the
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

Househelpers are usually the workhorses in family households. They are
required to perform all kinds of domestic chores the family requires, work beyond
eight hours a day, and are expected to be loyal and honest to their employees.
Despite these considerations, househelpers do not obtain the compensation and
benefits that other members of the labor force receive. Under Republic Act 7655,
otherwise known as “An Act increasing the Minimum Wage of Househelpers”, a
househelper in Metro Manila and in urbanized cities receives only a minimum of
Eight Hundred Pesos (P800) a month and a minimum of Five Hundred Pesos
(P500) a month for those in other municipalities. The minimum wage provided by
the foregoing law is no longer realistic and obviously overtaken by inflation.
Moreover, househelpers do not enjoy the benefits of membership under the
PhilHealth considering that under the Social Security System Law, only those
househelpers who are receiving at least One Thousand Pesos (P1,000) a month
shall be covered and therefore entitled to all benefits provided thereunder.

This bill seeks to address the apparent discrimination against househelpers
by protecting their rights and privileges, upholding their dignity, increasing their
wages, and providing them with health insurance coverage. By increasing the
minimum wage of househelpers and requiring their mandatory coverage in the
PhilHealth, househelpers can be rightfully compensated for their loyalty, honesty,
and hardwork.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is garnestly sought.

G
JOSE/CARLOS L. CARI


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO._ 837

By Honorable Jose Carlos L. Cari

AN ACT
INCREASING THE MINIMUM WAGE OF HOUSEHELPERS,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7655, AND
PROVIDING FOR THE MANDATORY COVERAGE OF
HOUSEHELPERS IN THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE
PROGRAM (NHIP) UNDER THE PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE
CORPORATION (PHILHEALTH)

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

SECTION 1. Objective. — This Act seeks to provide for the mandatory
increase in the minimum wage rates of househelpers and their mandatory coverage
in the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) under the Philippine Health
Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

SECTION 2. Increase in Minimum Wage. — Subparagraphs (1), (2) and, (3)
of Article 143 of Presidential Decree No. 442, otherwise known as the Labor Code
of the Philippines, as amended by Republic Act No. 7655, are hereby further
amended to read as follows:

“ART. 143. Minimum wage. - (a) Househelpers shall be paid the
following minimum rates:

“(1)[Bight hundred pesos (P800.00)] TWO THOUSAND FIVE
HUNDRED PESOS (P2,500.00) a month for househelpers in the
HIGHLY URBANIZED CITIES OF Manila, Quezon, Pasay, [and]
Caloocan, Makati, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Las Pifias,
[and] Pasig, NAVOTAS, SAN JUAN, PARANAQUE AND
VALENZUELA, [cities] and municipalities of [San Juan, Navotas,]
Malabon, [Parafiaque, Valenzuela] Taguig and Pateros in Metro
Manila and in OTHER highly urbanized cities IN THE PROVINCES;

“(2) [Six hundred fifty pesos (P650.00)] TWO THOUSAND PESOS
(P2,000) a month for those in other chartered cities and first class
municipalities; and


“(3) [Five Hundred fifty pesos (P550.00)] ONE THOUSAND FIVE
HUNDRED PESOS (P1,500.00) for those in other municipalities.

“Provided, that the employers shall review the employment contracts
of their househelpers every three (3) years with the end in view of
improving the terms and conditions thereof.

“Provided, further, that those househelpers who are receiving at least
One thousand pesos (P1,000) shall be covered by the Social Security
System (SSS) and be entitled to all the benefits thereunder.

Kk, x

SECTION 3. Mandatory Coverage. — All househelpers, regardless of wage
they receive, shall be covered by NHIP under the PhilHealth: Provided, That all
househelpers currently eligible for benefits under the Social Security System (SSS)
shall automatically be made members of the NHIP.

SECTION 4. Mandatory Enrollment in the NHIP. — All employers of
househelpers are mandated to enrol the latter in the NHIP in order for househelpers
to be placed under coverage that entitles them to avail of the benefits and financial
assistance provided therein: Provided, That the beneficiaries under this Act shall
be issued appropriate documentation specifying eligibility to benefits and
indicating how the benefit was obtained or is being maintained.

SECTION 5. Contributions. — The employer of the househelper shall pay the
monthly contributions as provided for by law: Provided, That the monthly
contributions shall not be deducted from the househelper’s wages.

SECTION 6. Penalties for Violation. — Failure of the employer to pay the
househelper the minimum wage mandated by this Act shall make the employer
liable for the penalties under the law. Moreover, failure of the employer to remit to
PhilHealth his/her corresponding contribution, and/or to enrol his/her househelper
with the NHIP, as mandated by this Act, shall not be a reason for depriving the
beneficiary of the benefits under the law; such failure will, however, subject the
erring or negligent employer to the penalties provided by law, without prejudice to
the right of PhilHealth to collect full reimbursement for honoring a properly filed
claim.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. — Any law, executive order, letter of
instruction or any part thereof which is inconsistent with any of the provisions of
this Act is hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general

circulation.

Approved,