Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETHENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
il;u:e-B?||N.6710
Introduced by Representative Midy N. Cua
Lone District, Quirino
AN ACT AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS 0F REPUBLIC ACT NO.10361,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "DOMESTIC WORKERS ACT" OR "BATAS
KASAMBAHAY," AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The relationship between an employer and a domestic worker or haczmbch¢); is unlike most employer-
employee  relationships.  In  most Filipino  households,  the *c7scz"bczfeay  is  welcomed  as  an  additional
member of the  Filipino  family.  In this  regard,  choosing  a 4czscJmz)cz¢cJ);  is  an  important decision  that
requires careful consideration.
To  date,  most  employers  and  frcrsczmbcz¢c7)/  rely  on  the  referral  and  vetting  of family,  friends,  and
acquaintances  when  pursuing  employment.  While  this  is  usually  a  reliable  way  of doing  things,
additional  information  about  employers,  domestic  workers,  and  private  employment  agencies  can
prevent unfavorable  situations  and incidents  from  occurring.  This  information can  be  provided by  a
National Registry of Domestic Workers.
Cash advance  is a common arrangement practiced between an employer and 4czsczmbcz¢c})/ in Filipino
households.  While most arrangements proceed smoothly,  employers  lack protection  should domestic
workers leave without any justifiable reason. At the same time, cash advances can become a cause of
dispute between an employer and *czsc}J77bcr¢c7);.  In this regard, proper documentation of cash advances
and the option to file a small claims case is proposed. Proper documentation protects both employers
and  domestic  workers  and  leads  to  evidence-based  dispute  resolution.  Should  a  kczscJmbcz¢ay  leave
withoutjustifiable reason, the documentation may also be used to seek redress.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this measure is earnestly sought.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
rio-us`e.B;`]NO.6710
Introduced by Representative Midy N. Cua
Lone District, Quirino
AN ACT AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10361,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ``DOMESTIC WORKERS ACT" OR "BATAS
KASAMBAHAY," AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House Of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. A subsection is hereby inserted after Section 17 Republic Act No.  10361, otherwise known
as the "Domestic Workers Act" or "Batas Kasambahay," to read as follows:
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4       "sE:c. ii-A. NATloNAL REGISTRy oF DOMESTIC WORKERS. -TFTE T}FTPA:RTr\im:INT OF
5       THE INTERIOR ANI) LOCAL GOVERNMHNT (DILG) SHALL, IN COORDINATION WITH
6       THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLoyMENT a]OLE), ESTABLlsH A NATIONAL
7       REGISTRY OF DOMESTIC WORKERS.
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9       THE NATIONAL RHGISTRY OF DOMESTIC WORKERS SHALL COLLECT RELEVANT
10       INFORMATION  T0  CONSTRUCT  A  RECORD  FOR  EACH  EMPLOYER,  DOMESTIC
11       WORKER,  AND  PRIVATE  EMPLOYMENT  AGENCY.  THE  RECORD  SHALL  INCLUDE
12       BASIC      INFORMATION,     LABOR-RELATED      DISPUTES     ELEVATED      TO     THE
13       DEPARTMENT  0F  LABOR  AND  EMPLOYMENT  (DOLE)  REGIONAL  OFFICE,  AND
14       OTHER    DISPUTES    ELEVATED    TO    LOCAL    GOVERNMENT    UNITS    0R    LAW
15       HNFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
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17       EMPLOYERS, DOMESTIC WORKERS, AND PRIVATH EMPLOYMENT AGENCIHS MAY
18       REQUEST  RECORDS  FROM  THE  NATIONAL  REGISTRY  0F  DOMESTIC  WORKERS
19       FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONDUCTING DUE DILIGENCE PRIOR TO THE EXECUTION
20       0F AN EMPLOYMHNT CONTRACT."
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SEC. 2. A section is hereby inserted after Section 25 of Republic Act No.10361, otherwise known as
the "Domestic Workers Act" or "Batas Kasambahay," to read as follows:
25       "SEC.  26.  CHSH .4DP:4JVCES.  -  THE  DEPARTMENT  0F  LABOR  AND  EMPLOYMENT
26       (DOLE)     SHALL     DEVELOP     MODEL     DOCUMENTATION     FOR     THE     TERMS,
27       DISBURSEMENT, AND PAYMENT OF CASH ADVANCES. THE DOCUMENTS SHALL, AT
28       ALL  TIMES,  BE  MADE  AVAILABLE  FREE  0F  CHARGE  T0  DOMESTIC  WORKERS,
29       EMPLOYERS, REPRESENATIVE ORGANIZATIONS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE
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1       DOLH SHALL WIDELY DISSEMINATE INFORMATION TO DOMESTIC WORKERS AND
2       EMPLOYERS ON THE USE OF SUCH MODELDOCUMENTATI0N.
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4       IN CASES WHERE THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE DOMESTIC WORKER IS FACILIATED
5       THROUGHA PRIVATE EMPLOYMENT AGENCY (PEA), THE PEA SHALL KEEP A COPY
6       0F ALL DOCUMHNTS AND SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR VHRIFICATI0N AND
7       INSPECTION BY RELEVANT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.
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9       IF THE  DOMESTIC WORKER LEAVES WITHOUT ANY JUSTIFIABLE REASON, THE
10       EMPLOYHR SHALL FILL A REPORT WITH THE DOLE REGIONAL OFFICE HAVING
11       JURISDICTION OVER THE WORKPLACE WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE FILING OF A
12       SMALL CLAIMS CASE WITH THE REGULAR COURTS."
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SEC. 3. J7#p/e7"e7?/J.J7g Rzt/es cz#c7jzegw/c}/;.o#f. -Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act,
the  Secretary  of  Labor  and  Employment,  the  Secretary  of  Social  Welfare  and  Development,  the
Secretary of the Interior and Local Government,  and the Director General  of the Philippine National
Police,  in  coordination  with  other  concerned  government  agencies  and  accredited  nongovemment
organizations (NGOs) assisting domestic workers, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations
for the effective implementation of this Act.
21         SEC.  4. j4ppraprz.cz/z.o77£.  -The  amount necessary  for the  initial  implementation  of this  Act  shall  be
22        charged against the  current appropriations  of the Department of Labor and Employment.  Thereafter,
23        such  amount  necessary  for the  continued  implementation  of this  Act  shall  be  included  in  the  annual
24        General Appropriations Act.
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SEC. 5. SepcJrcJbj./z.ty C/cJwse.  -If any provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, all other
provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid.
SEC. 6. jiepec7/z.;7g C/cz#se. -All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof,
which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
32        SEC.  7. EJffec/J.vJ.ty.  -This Act  shall  take  effect flfteen  (15)  days  after  its  publication  in the  OJ7j7}cJ.c7/
33        Gczze//e or in a newspaper of general circulation.
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3 5                       Approved,
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