00:00A new entitlement and welfare package has been conceived and unveiled by the Department of Migrant Workers to uplift the lives of the country's economy.
00:15The country's domestic workers comprise 20% of the total OFW force. It includes a higher minimum pay of at least $500 for skilling and or upskilling opportunities and email correspondence program to regularly check on their living or working status and welfare, as our Noel Talakay has more.
00:34A complete package for the rights and welfare of Filipino domestic workers abroad. This is the full description of the newly enhanced reform for Filipino domestic workers of the Department of Migrant Workers or DMW.
00:53One of its components is the salary increase from $400 to $500.
00:59The basis of this is our consultations with our stakeholders because it's very broad.
01:09Unlike the minimum wage increases here that can be scientifically pegged depending on the cost of living per region,
01:18across the board for the whole world. So we had to consider yung base or yung floor level at yung expenses ng mga OFWs in their respective countries of origin
01:33and a rate that will be common or acceptable to all stakeholders all around the world.
01:39In a press conference by the DMW today, Kakdak emphasized that the $500 is just a floor or base salary.
01:50It might increase depending on the country that an overseas Filipino workers or OFW will be working in or it will depend on the skills of the OFW.
02:01That's why another component of the enhanced reform is the risk killing, upskilling, and career mobility of OFWs or domestic helper.
02:12May potential na dumagdag yung mini, idadagdag namin, magpapataw kami ng minimum when a domestic worker increases his or her skill set.
02:23Also part of enhanced reforms is the annual medical exam. Domestic workers abroad can have their yearly health check-up to accredited hospitals abroad.
02:35Kakdak says that in the future, these benefits will be mandatory.
02:41So ang first phase muna is voluntary. Kung sino ang gusto magpa-annual medical, yun ang pa-uunla ka na.
02:48While another component is Kumusta Kabayan Digital Welfare Monitoring System, domestic workers abroad will receive a Kumusta email from OWA.
02:59It's one way of checking the current status or situation of a domestic worker.
03:06According to DMW, there are 100 to 150 personnel who will respond and take actions to their email replies.
03:16Meron namang identification marks dun sa email that will show na legitimate government entity.
03:23But part of recognizing the emails and our Kamusta Kabayan efforts is also announcements like this.
03:30Mandatory VIDIC conference between employers and domestic workers will be implemented before he or she will leave the country and sign a contract.
03:39Under the enhanced reform program, it is called Know Your Employer Protocol.
03:44Kasi sa ngayon, umaalis yung domestic worker na hindi niya nakikita o kilala yung pupuntahan niyang employer.
03:51Allow the worker to gain direct knowledge of jobs, duties, workplace conditions, household composition, rest periods, and accommodation.
04:00He says that the said four components of the newly enhanced reform for Filipino domestic workers will take effect six months after being signed.
04:11There are three more components, but the agency has actually already been implementing it.
04:17Between 100,000 to 200,000 Filipinos leave the country to work as domestic workers per year.
04:24This accounts for 20 to 30% of the total number of registered OFWs worldwide.
04:32Noel Talakay from the National TV Network for New Better Philippines.
