THIRTEENTH CONGRESS 0,F THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHlLlPPiNES 
Second Regular Session 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. MAPJNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Those who have less in life should have more in law. But Presidential 
Decree No. 442, otherwise known as the Labor Code of the Philippines, as 
amended, which prescribes the minimum wage for househelpers has failed to 
provide realistic minimum wage levels for domestic helpers who occupy the 
lowest wrung and are the most exploited among our workforce. Specifically, 
Article 143 thereof sets the amount of Eight Hundred Pesos (P800.00) a month 
as minimum wage for househelpers in Manila, Quezon, Pasay, and Caloocan 
cities and municipalities of Makati, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Muntinlupa, 
Navotas, Malabon, Parafiaque, Las Pifias, Pasig, Marikina, Valenzuela, Taguig 
and Pateros in Metro Manila and in highly urbanized cities; Six Hundred Fifty 
Pesos (P650.00) a month for those in other chartered cities and first-class 
municipalities; and Five Hundred Fifty Pesos (P550.00) a month for those in 
other municipalities. 
These minimum wages may have been realistic on August 19, 1993 when 
Republic Act No. 7655 was issued to amend P.D. No. 442. But after thirteen (13) 
long years, such amounts which are still specified in our statutes are not only 
unrealistic, they are downright embarrassing and scandalous. 
This situation becomes even more lamentable in view of a constitutionally 
mandated policy for the State to affirm labor as a primary social economic force, 
to protect the rights of workers and promote their welfare. 
Even Article 1700 of the New Civil Code recognizes the relations between 
capital and labor as something that are not merely contractual but are impressed 


with public interest. Hence, labor contracts must yield to the common good. 
Therefore, such contracts are subject to the special laws on labor unions, 
collective bargaining, strikes and lockouts, closed shops, wages, working 
conditions, hours of labor and similar subjects. 
This bill then seeks to increase the minimum wage of househelpers by 
again, amending Article 143 of P.D. No. 442. It is hereby proposed that the 
minimum wage of househelpers in Manila, Quezon, Pasay, and Caloocan cities 
and municipalities of Makati, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Muntinlupa, Navotas, 
Malabon, Paraiiaque, Las Pifias, Pasig, Marikina, Valenzuela, Taguig and 
Pateros in Metro Manila and in highly urbanized cities ration of health and 
medical services in the countryside be increased from Eight Hundred Pesos 
(P800.00) to One Thousand Two Hundred Pesos (P1,200.00) a month; from Six 
Hundred Fifty Pesos (P650.00) to Nine Hundred Fifty Pesos (P950.00) a month 
for those in other chartered cities and first class municipalities; and from Five 
Hundred Fifty Pesos (P550.00) to Seven Hundred Fifty Pesos (P750.00) a month 
for those in other municipalities. 
It is hoped that such increase would stem the tide of migration of 
househelpers from rural areas to urban areas; raise the minimum wages to 
realistic levels; and at the same time give dignity to domestic household help. 
For obvious reasons, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly prayed 
for. 
MANNY VIL AR !i 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
Senate Bill No. 2245 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. MANNY VILLAR 
AN ACT 
INCREASING THE MINIMUM WAGE OF HOUSEHELPERS AMENDING FOR 
THE PURPOSE ARTICLE 143 OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NUMBERED 442, 
AS AMENDED 
Be,,enacfed 
r't 
by the Senate and House of Represenfafives of fhe 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Subparagraphs (I), 
(2) and (3), Article 143 of Presidential 
Decree No. 442 are hereby amended as follows: 
"ART. 143. Minimum Wage. - (a) Househelpers shall be paid the 
following minimum wage rates: 
(1) 
[Eight hundred pesos (PS00.00)I ONE THOUSAND TWO 
HUNDRED PESOS (P1,200.00) a month for househelpers in 
Manila, Quezon, Pasay and Caloocan cities and municipalities of 
Makati, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Malabon, 
ParaAaque, Las PiAas, Pasig, Marikina, Valenzuela, Taguig and 
Pateros in Metro Manila and in highly urbanized cities; 
(2) 
[Six hundred fifty pesos (P650.00)] NINE HUNDRED FIFTY 
PESOS (P950.00) a month for those in other chartered cities and 
first class municipalities; and 


(3) 
[Five hundred fifty pesos (P550.00)] SEVEN HUNDRED 
FIFTY PESOS (P750.00) a month for those in other municipalities; 
SECTION 2. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,