kasambahay billThe Social Security Sytem (SSS) welcomed the signing into law by President Benigno Aquino III last January 18 of Republic Act No. 10361, “An Act Instituting Policies for the Protection and Welfare of Domestic Workers”, or more popularly known as the Kasambahay Law. SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio S. de Quiros, Jr. said that the Law, which took over 17 years in the making, furthered strengthened SSS’ long-standing mandate to provide social protection to household workers, which include maids, family drivers, nursemaids or yaya, gardeners, cooks, or laundry women.

“As early as September 1, 1993, the SSS had already made the registration and coverage of househelpers mandatory,” de Quiros explained. “We have made significant strides in fulfilling that mandate, but this new Kasambahay Law has more ‘teeth’ in terms of enforcing compliance and punishing non-compliance. More importantly, househelpers are given wider social protection through their mandatory membership and contributions in Philhealth, and Pag-IBIG, aside from SSS.”

Under current SSS guidelines, household employers must register their househelpers and remit to SSS their monthly contributions, the amount of which is shared between the employer and the househelper. The rate of contribution is 10.4 percent of the gross income, with the employer paying 7.07 percent and the employee paying 3.33 percent of the total 10.4 percent. Under the Kasambahay Law, househelpers earning P5,000 or less per month are exempted from being deducted for their share in social security contributions, which the household employer must bear alone.

“In terms of penalty, non-compliance to the provisions of the Kasamabahay Law carries a fine of not less than P10,000 but not more than P40,000. This is significantly higher than the current penalty imposed by SSS of not less than P5,000 and not more than P20,000. So, hopefully, household employers will be further deterred from not obeying the law,” de Quiros said.

Household helpers are required to secure an SS number before they can be reported for coverage under the SSS by filling out Personal Record (SS Form E-1) and submitting it to the SSS together with the original/certified true copy and photocopy of their birth certificate, baptismal certificate, driver’s license or passport. In their absence, secondary documents like voter’s ID, school ID, police clearance and other ID’s may also be submitted.

The SSS shall issue Employer (ER) Numbers to all new or first time household employers upon submission of properly accomplished ER Registration (SS Form R-1) and Employment Report (SS Form R-1A), which shall contain the SS numbers and names of their househelpers. Meanwhile, household helpers who are using their SSS numbers to pay for the contributions of their househelpers shall be allowed to do so until they are provided their respective ER numbers.

The SSS has partnered with different banks and institutions to accept payments from employers. ER payments may also be made thru Automatic Debit Arrangement (ADA) with accredited banks or over-the-counter at Bayad Center outlets and SM Business Centers.

As of December 2012, the SSS has 95,860 Househelpers in its membership rolls. As of October 2012, contributions made by Househelpers and their employers reached around P189 Million, or 0.2 percent of total SSS collections then of P78.5 Billion.

The SSS is set to release soon new guidelines to incorporate the provisions of the Kasambahay Law.

By BD

3 thoughts on “SSS lauds signing of Kasambahay Law”
  1. Kasambahay law.We just registered our kasambahay who had been working for us since 1993, call me ignorant of the law, but.Since the law just signed., Will.
    I be penalized for the number of years that I didn't contribute?

  2. KASAMBAHAY LAW
    Wala Sa Lugar, Wala Sa Tamang Panahon.

    Another very unreasonable law must be shouldered by Juan de la Cruz particularly the supposed to be Middle Class who by now because of our current economic situation may be rightly classified as part too of the Lowest Class or The Poor.

    Noong araw pag ikaw ay nakatapos ng kolehiyo at nakapasok sa isang opisina, malamang ikaw ay mapabilang sa tinatawag na Middle Class. Pero ngayon magkano ba ang sahod ng mga ito? Malamang ang mga baguhan ay magsisimula sa Minimum o P456/day.

    Pag ikaw ay nag-asawa, naturalmente, kailangan mo ng magsarili. Kung kayat kailangan mo na ng isang bahay na matitirahan nyong mag-asawa. Dahil wala ka pang pambili, mapipilitan kang mangupahan. Sa puntong ito atin munang sumahin ang Net Income & Basic Expenses ng mag-asawang ito.

    Minimum Salary/Day P456 X 26 = Gross Income P11,856.00. Gross Income 11,856.00 – Philhealth 137.50 – SSS 366.70 – Pag-ibig 100.00 = Monthly Individual Net Income P 11,251.80. Monthly Individual Net Income 11,251.80 X 2 = Monthly Couples Net Income P 22,503.60. House Rental 5,000.00 + Electricity 2,300.00 + Water 350.00 + Pamalengke 5,000.00 + Couples Transportation To & Fro The Office (P120 X 26 X 2 ) 6,240.00 + Couples Meal At The Office ( P80 X 26 X 2 ) 4,160.00 + Baby Milk 4,500.00 + Baby Pampers 1,600.00 + Baby Water 450.00 + Kasambahay Wage 3,000.00 = Monthly Basic Expenses P 32,600.00. Monthly Basic Expenses 32,600.00 – Monthly Couples Net Income 22,503.60 = Monthly Net Income Shortage To Basic Expenses P10,096.40.

    Note: This computation did not even include LPG Gas, Grocery Items, Baby’s Check Ups & Other Health.

    Maintanance Budget, House/Car/Educational Plans, etc.

    Mapapansin natin na mas malaki ng P10,096 ang Basic Expenses kaysa Net Income. Kung kayat kailangan pa ang karagdagang halagang iyan sa Net Income ng sino man sa mag-asawa upang matustusan ang Basic Expenses. Malamang mahabang panahong paghihintay, pagsisikap, & panalangin pa ang katapat ng halagang iyan.

    Bagamat halos wala na ngang matira o kulang pa nga ang kanilang kita ay kailangan pa rin nilang kumuha ng isang kasambahay na mag-aasikaso sa bahay lalo na kung may maliit silang anak upang silang mag-asawa naman ay makapasok sa kani-kanilang opisina.

    Sa panahon ngayon, napakahirap ng kumuha ng isang kasambahay kung kayat ang amo na ang nakikisama sa kanila sa pag-asang tumagal-tagal naman ang mga ito. Bukod pa dito, mataas na ang kanilang Asking Price, pinakamababa na marahil ang P3,000.00 at madalas ay napakaabusado pa. Ilang halimbawa ang mga sumusunod:
    • Nandoong hihingan ka ng pamasahe plus finder’s fee kung may ahente, pagkatapos ay hindi naman sisipot o sisipot nga pero makalipas lang ang ilang araw ay lalayasan ka na. Paano naman ang iyong nagastos na lubhang mahalaga din sa iyo?
    • Puro cellphone na lamang ang inaatupag pag di nakaharap ang kanilang mga amo kung kayat ang kanilang mga gawain ay di na maisaayos o di na talaga ginagawa.
    • Walang ingat sa mga gamit & kasangkapan.
    • Walang pakundangan pag-aaksaya ng gasul, kuryente, tubig, pagkain, etc.
    • Pagnapagsabihan, sila pa ang galit o tuwirang lalaban pa sa kanilang amo.
    • Marami pang iba, ngunit ang higit na pinakamasama ay ang pagmaltrato sa mga alaga nilang bata o ang malakihang pagnanakaw.

    Sa kabila nito, dahil nga sa lubhang pangangailangan mo at napakahirap na ngang kumuha ng isang kasambahay, ay pagtitiyagaan mo pa rin. Susugal ka pa rin, sabay ng panalangin na “ Huwag naman sana ang pinakamasamang mangyayari”.

    Tapos ito na nga ang Kasambahay Law, dagdag pahirap sa kawawang naghihirap ding amo. Noong unang panahon na naaapi pa ang mga kasambahay sa Pilipinas, kailangan ito. Sa Saudi o sa iba pang bansa kung saan naaapi ang mga kasambahay, kailangan ito. Pero dito sa ating Bayang Pilipinas, ngayon? “ Wala Sa Lugar O Sa Tamang Panahon”.

  3. Pls. deputies all barangay officials to visit all the residences within their jurisdiction if they have a "kasambahay". If this law will be effective. Kasambahays are still at the mercy of their employer avoiding responsibility.

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