The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) 6 will hold a series of public consultations and hearings starting this month on the proposed wage increase for domestic workers or “kasambahay.”

Labor representative Wennie Sancho recently said the board will begin discussing the proposal during its meeting in Iloilo City on January 10.

Sancho noted that the RTWPB-6 decided to review the wage of “kasambahay” motu proprio or on its own.

He added that Wage Order No. 2, which prescribed the new minimum wage rate for domestic workers in the region, including Negros Occidental, at P3,500 per month already lapsed last December 8.

The said wage order removed the classification of “kasambahay” and they were allowed to receive the same wage rate, regardless of whether they are working in cities or different classes of municipalities.

Previously, domestic workers in cities and first class municipalities were prescribed to receive P2,500 per month while those in other towns were entitled to get P2,000.

Based on the current wage order, the salary of domestic workers in cities and first class municipalities increased by P1,000 per month while for those in other towns, by P1,500.

Sancho earlier said the classification was somehow “confusing and discriminatory.”

The existing wage order applies to all domestic workers, whether on a live-in or live-out arrangement, such as, but not limited to general househelp, “yaya,” cook, gardener, laundry person, and any person who regularly performs work in one household on an occupational basis.

However, it does not cover service providers, family drivers, children under foster family arrangement, and any other person who performs work occasionally or sporadically and not on occupational basis. (PNA)