The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced on Friday that a wage increase of P500 for household helpers in Metro Manila will take effect in early January 2025.
Starting January 2, the minimum wage for household helpers in Metro Manila will be set at P7,000.
Approved by the National Wages and Productivity Commission, a similar wage hike will also be implemented in Northern Mindanao, effective January 12. This will raise the monthly wage for household helpers in the region to P6,000, up from the previous P5,000, according to Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma.
“Ang pwede mangyari d’yan do-doble yung amount na dapat nilang bayaran, depende sa circumstances,” Laguesma said when asked what would happen if employers fail to comply.
“Wala pong kasamang kulong ‘yan unless kagaya ng mga ibang napa-balita sa inyong istasyon, yung mga pagma-maltrato, may pambubugbog, pananakit. Pwede pong magkaroon ng criminal na kaso at magkaroon ng kaukulang imprisonment,” he clarified.
“Siyempre, iba-blacklist namin sila at imo-monitor namin kung saka-sakaling magha-hire na naman sila ng panibagong manggagawa o kasambahay,” he added.
Laguesma assured household helpers that if they encounter employers who refuse to comply with the wage order, they can contact the agency’s hotline at 1349.