P5,000 monthly pay set for BARMM kasambahay

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — The Bangsamoro Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (BTWPB) approved on Monday a wage order setting at P5,000 the monthly pay of household workers or kasambahay in the autonomous region.

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is composed of the provinces of Basilan, Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi as well as the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan and Marawi.

The wage order was signed during a ceremony held at the BARMM capitol in Cotabato City by members of the BTWPB, BARMM Labor Minister Muslimin Sema and other stakeholders.

“It is a product of a very extensive multisector consultation in the Bangsamoro provinces and cities. We ensure that the wage order will be acceptable to employers and household helpers,” Sema said.

Anwar Malang, who represents the employers sector and provides free legal services to Muslim labor groups, said the P5,000 monthly wage order for BARMM household workers is higher by P500 than the amount granted in the neighboring region of Soccsksargen.

Sema said he directed the provincial offices of the Ministry of Labor and Employment in BARMM to disseminate details pertaining to the P5,000 per month wage order for domestic workers.