VP Binay: New contract for KSA-bound helpers model for other countries



The new Standard Employment Contract (SEC) for Filipino helpers bound for Saudi Arabia will become a model for future contracts in other destination countries, Vice President Jejomar Binay said Saturday.

Binay the presidential adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers’ Concerns, said the contract will help ensure household service workers (HSWs) are not abused or exploited.

"With the new agreement, both (Philippine and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) governments can work together in enforcing a stronger regulatory regime for the deployment of HSWs and ensure that abuse and exploitation of our HSWs are stopped," he said.

He also lauded the Saudi Arabia government, which he said “has extended to the Philippine government all the needed assistance to protect our workers.”

Following talks between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia, recruiters were again allowed to send Filipino HSWs to the Kingdom.

The new contract provides for increase of the minimum wage of HSWs from $200 to $400 per month.

Binay noted this had always been a cause of friction in the past.

"There were oral contracts entered into by recruiters and the workers, making them understand such an amount. But this time it is already embodied in the contract,” he said.

But with the SEC in place, he said employers are now required to pay HSWs via the banking system to ensure that wages are paid fully and on time.

“If you visit our shelter houses in the Middle East, many of (the HSWs) are complainants of not receiving their salaries. In this particular instance, the monthly monitoring will be done through monthly deposits to be made in the bank,” he said.

Also, the HSWs will be allowed at least eight hours of rest daily and one day off work per week.

The contract also entitles a worker to return to the Philippines for a paid vacation leave of 30 days for every two years of service with a round-trip economy class ticket.

If the HSW decides to renew his/her contract with the employer, he/she is entitled to receive an additional one month salary.

In case of death, the employer is responsible for the repatriation of the HSW remains and personal belongings to the Philippines as soon as legally possible and without undue delay.

Should repatriation be impossible, it may be disposed of after obtaining the approval of one of the HSW’s next of kin or by the Philippine Embassy.

Binay also said the new contract bars employers from keeping the passports of their HSWs.

“In fact, what they usually do abroad in the past would be upon arrival (of the HSWs), (the employers) already take hold of the passport,” he said. — LBG, GMA News

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