DOLE: Floor wage to help convince BARMM domestic workers to stay

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday welcomed the issuance of the first wage order for domestic workers in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), expressing belief it will help discourage them from seeking jobs overseas.

In a phone interview, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said he is hoping fewer domestic workers would look for employment opportunities abroad now that a floor wage for household helper workers has been set in the BARMM.

“This recognizes the need to address the plight and well-being of domestic workers in the area,” said Laguesma.

“It could provide those who are thinking of working abroad as household helpers the impetus to stay and work here, thereby avoiding and minimizing the social costs of overseas employment,” he added.

Laguesma issued the statement after the Bangsamoro Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (BTWPB) issued the first wage order for domestic workers in the BARMM.

Under Wage Order No. BARMM-DW-01, all domestic workers, whether live-in or live-out, across Bangsamoro must receive no less than P5,000 per month.

“The signing of Wage Order No. BARMM-DW-01 marks the first issuance of a wage order for domestic workers in the region since the BARMM was established in 2019,” said BARMM Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE) Minister Muslimin Sema in a statement.

“This is the first time this has ever happened in the BARMM, and finally our kasambahays (domestic workers) will have a decent wage that they can use for their families,” Sema added.

Before the issuance of the wage order, the BTWPB said it conducted a series of public consultations in different areas of the region to gather insights and concerns of the stakeholders.

Covered by the wage order are all domestic workers residing or working in the Bangsamoro region such as general house help, cooks, cleaners, laundry persons, babysitters, caregivers, gardeners, and others of the same nature.

Excluded, on the other hand, are family drivers, children under foster family arrangements, and service providers.

The Bangsamoro wage board said the wage order will take effect 15 days after it is published in at least one newspaper of general