Press Release
January 23, 2013

JINGGOY HAILS PNOY FOR SIGNING BATAS KASAMBAHAY

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada hails President Aquino for signing into law the landmark Batas Kasambahay before leaving for Davos, Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum.

"The Araw ng Kasambahay has finally come. After many years of languishing in the legislative mill for several Congresses, the Batas Kasambahay is now a reality," Sen. Estrada states.

Section 39 of the proposed Batas Kasambahay states that "the date upon which the President shall approve this Domestic Workers Act shall be designated as the 'Araw ng mga Kasambahay.'"

"I was hopeful that the bill would be signed in December last year as a Christmas gift to our kasambahay. Unfortunately this did not happen due to unnecessary delays and squabbling," Jinggoy adds.

Sen. Estrada, chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development who authored and sponsored the bill, says that more than two million household workers who stand to benefit from the measure are also certainly thankful to the President for its enactment and are looking forward to its effective implementation.

The Senate and the House of Representatives approved the bicameral conference committee report on November 27 and November 26, respectively.

The enrolled copy of the consolidated version of the proposed Batas Kasambahay was sent to the Office of the President, through the PLLO (Presidential Legislative Liaison Service), for signature and approval of President Aquino only on January 14, 2013.

Officially titled "An Act Instituting Policies for the Protection and Welfare of Domestic Workers," the Batas Kasambahay establishes the labor rights and privileges of domestic workers in accordance to internationally-accepted standards.

It also increases the monthly minimum wage rates for domestic workers from P800 to P2,500 for those employed in the National Capital Region; from P650 to P2,000 for those in chartered cities and first-class municipalities; and from P550 to P1,500 for those in other municipalities.

Further, it entitles them coverage and membership to social security instruments, specifically the Social Security System (SSS), Philhealth and PAG-IBIG.

Sen. Estrada, the main proponent of the Kasambahay Bill, also thanked his colleagues in the legislature including the 241 authors and co-authors in the House of Representatives, for supporting and finally resolving to pass the measure after 19 long years.

He also cited the efforts of the members of the bicameral conference panel, namely Senators Loren Legarda, Ramon Revilla, Jr., Pia Cayetano and Lito Lapid, and Representatives Emil Ong, Juan Edgardo Angara, Juan Ponce Enrile, Jr., Rufus Rodriguez, Walden Bello, Magtanggol Gunigundo, Janette Garin, Edcel Lagman and Mitos Magsaysay.

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