Kasambahay Law (Republic Act No. 10361)
Also known as: Domestic Workers Act · Republic Act No. 10361 · RA 10361 · Batas Kasambahay
Definition
The Kasambahay Law (Republic Act No. 10361), enacted in 2013, is the Domestic Workers Act of the Philippines. It recognizes domestic workers, called kasambahay, as bona fide employees entitled to written contracts, minimum wage, social insurance coverage under SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG, 13th month pay, weekly rest days, and decent living conditions for live-in workers.
Identities (Wikipedia/Wikidata/DBpedia)
- Wikipedia: N/A (no dedicated article; full text at LawPhil [1])
- Wikidata: N/A
- DBpedia: N/A
Also Known As
- Domestic Workers Act
- Republic Act No. 10361
- RA 10361
- Batas Kasambahay
Examples and Analogies
The law extends to household workers the protections that labor standards long gave to factory and office employees, treating the home as a workplace in the same way a shop floor is one, rather than as a purely private family space beyond regulation.
Usage Scenarios
The law applies in employing household helpers, family drivers, gardeners, and caregivers serving a household, and it is used by labor officers handling complaints, by employers drafting contracts, and in barangay-level settlement of pay disputes.
Strategies
Compliance strategies include written engagement contracts, enrollment in social insurance, payment through verifiable means, and observance of standard working-hour norms and rest days.
Security and Safety Measures
The law prohibits placement fees charged to kasambahay, mandates decent board and lodging for live-ins, and provides that abused or underpaid workers may seek DOLE intervention without losing employment claims.
Historical Context
The statute followed the Philippines’ ratification of International Labour Organization Convention 189 on decent work for domestic workers, of which the country was among the first Asian states to become a party, translating the convention into national standards.
Challenges and Controversies
Enforcement inside private homes remains difficult, many engagements remain informal and unregistered, and advocates note that minimum wage levels for kasambahay still trail living-cost realities, especially in Metro Manila.
Related Topic
Department of Labor and Employment