Kasambahays or household helpers in Iloilo were assured of social protection and healthcare services from the government.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) recently organized a forum to mark Kasambahay Day at the Smallville 21 Hotel in Iloilo City.
“Kasambahays cook, wash plates and clothes, tend to the homes and children or elderly parents of their employers,” said DOLE assistant regional director Melisa S. Navarra in her message.
She recognized the household helpers’ vital contributions to the lives of their employers, citing their sacrifices as crucial for allowing their employers to go to work with peace of mind.
Navarra stressed that in return, the government provides protection for the rights and ensures the welfare of the ‘kasambahays’ to preserve their dignity as human beings. Department of the Interior and Local Government-Local Government Monitoring and Evaluation Division (LGMED) chief Maricel M. Bechayda, called on the ‘kasambahays’ to register with the local government where they are.
Bechayda also enumerated the importance of registration of kasambahays which includes protection and security, adding advice for the barangay officials to diligently perform their responsibilities in registering the house helpers.
Batas Kasambahay regional focal person Andrea Pama-Ligad discussed the salient features of RA 10361 or the Batas Kasambahay and the protocols on the rescue and rehabilitation of abused Kasambahay as embodied in the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2015-002 of the DOLE, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), DILG, Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
The kasambahays and the employers also benefited from the lecture on practical safety and health tips in the workplace through the Occupational Safety and Health Center 6 staff Melveen Melocoton.
The officer emphasized that health and safety should be the concern of the employers and the workers.
Further, Employees Compensation Commission (ECC) officer-in-charge Stephen Barredo presented the social protection in case of work-related accidents and diseases, conveying the different cases that merit lawful compensation and processing of claims.
To underscore the importance of health and well-being, nutritionist Romela Dee Candoliza of the National Nutrition Council likewise introduced the government’s nutrition program which is the “10 Kumainments and Pinggang Pinoy.”
The Help Desk composed of representatives from the Social Security System (SSS), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF-Pag-Ibig) also assisted the kasambahays with their queries and clarifications.
The Pag-IBIG and Philhealth accepted the onsite registration of unregistered participants.
The kasambahays were also pampered with free massage, and each took home tote bags, freebies, and goods from various agencies.
This initiative, in collaboration with different institutions, was made in line with the DOLE’s thrust of providing services to the underserved, unserved, and hard-to-reach sectors of society.AAL/AGP/PIA6
