More kasambahay prefer live-out setup

MANILA, Philippines — Many domestic helpers in the country are opting for live-out arrangements and get paid the prescribed minimum wage, the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) revealed.

Criselda Sy, NWPC executive director, said results of a recent survey done with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the arrangement is now a growing trend among household service workers (HSW).

Of the more than 1.4 million HSWs nationwide, NWPC said 71.8 percent or 1,005,947 are on live-out arrangement while only 394,185 are living with their employers.

Except in Metro Manila, the greater bulk of HSWs are employed under the live-out arrangement, with 33 percent working five days or less.

On the average, Sy said the kasambahay or house helper is getting between P3,000 to P6,000 monthly pay.

“The lowest wage for kasambahay is P2,000 and that’s in BARMM (autonomous Muslim region). The highest is in the National Capital Region at P5,000. (Our survey) shows that there are kasambahay who are receiving more than P6,000 a month,” Sy said in a virtual briefing.

She said the live-out trend is a better arrangement because abuses can be prevented.

“This is actually good news and an indication that the role of household helper in the country is continuously being professionalized,” Sy pointed out.

Results of the same survey showed that 95 percent of kasambahay are females while 70 percent are working at least eight hours a day. Compared to their counterpart, those on live-out arrangements are performing less tasks.

However, the survey also found glaring violations of the Kasambahay Law, particularly on the required employment contract and provision of social benefits.