The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading the Caregivers Welfare Act that sets the minimum wage for caregivers in the country.
House Bill 6424 authored by Reps. Herminia B. Roman of the first district of Bataan and Karlo Alexei B. Nograles of the first district of Davao City pegs a minimum wage of P7,000 a month for caregivers employed in the National Capital Region (NCR).
For those rendering caregiving services in chartered cities and first-class municipalities, the monthly minimum wage shall be P5,500, while those in other municipalities shall receive P4,000 a month.
The bill strictly prohibits the employers to pay caregivers any means of promissory notes, vouchers, coupons, tokens, tickets, chits or any object other than the cash wage, as provided under the law.
Roman lauded the passage of the bill, which seeks to protect the welfare of caregivers in the country.
“The role of caregivers in national development, policies in the practice of the caregiving profession must be instituted to protect the rights of caregivers and to promote their welfare towards a decent employment,” Roman said.
The Department of Labor and Employment shall develop a model employment contract for caregivers, which shall be made available to the general public free of charge at all times.