A KASAMBAHAY who served her employer for 30 years was granted retirement benefit courtesy of the labor department’s Single Entry Approach (SEnA) Program.
Sixty-seven year-old Rosita Pajares or “Nanay Rosing” as she is called started working as a kasambahay to her Manila-based employer in 1991, doing a variety of household work. Her employment as kasambahay prevented her from having a family of her own as she dedicated her productive years serving her employer’s family.
As she experienced pronounced physical signs of ageing, Nanay Rosing recently decided to retire in her hometown in Camarines Norte, where she learned that she is entitled to retirement pay. Still not convinced, she visited the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Office in Camarines Norte and asked about what is entitled to receive as kasambahay.
Upon validation of Pajares’ case under the Single Entry Approach (SEnA) Program, DOLE- Bicol thru Camarines Norte Provincial Field Office headed by Renalyn E. Alano, set the schedule of conciliation-mediation conference between Pajares and her employer.
Through a video conference, the employer acknowledged the rules in granting retirement pay to kasambahay as provided in the labor code. The employer agreed to pay the sum of PHP100,000 as retirement pay for Nanay Rosing. The employer agreed to pay her in monthly instalment of P8,333.33 over a 1-year period.
“Wala pong pagsidlan ang aking katuwaan at pasasalamat sa DOLE na ako po ay mapagkakalooban ng aking retirement pay. Ang halagang ito ay tutugon sa aking pang araw-araw na pangangailangan sa pagkain at gamot,” Pajares said.
Regional Director Ma. Zenaida A. Angara-Campita in response to the provision of fast monetary settlement claims said: “By this effort to conciliate and settle issues of monetary entitlements to our kasambahay, we take part in celebrating Kasambahay Day as a significant contribution of the Department in promoting compliance and effective implementation of Republic Act 10361 (Domestic Workers Law).”
Also, Campita said further that it is one of the labor department’s ways to give due recognition to the dedication and rendered services of the kasambahays.
“Hindi matatawaran ang papel na ginagampanan ng ating mga kasambahay. Bakas sa kanilang mga kamay ang ilang taon na paninilbihan at pagiging katuwang natin sa buhay. Hindi lamang sila maituturing na kasambahay kundi mga bayani ng ating tahanan. Malaki rin ang kanilang kontribusyon sa pag-uswag ng ating ekonomiya kaya nararapat lamang na mabigyan sila ng sapat na pagkilala, mga karapatan at iba pang mga benepisyo sa tulong ng SEnA at iba pang mga programa ng DOLE,” she added.
