Senator Jinggoy Estrada wants Private Employment Agencies (PEA) responsible to any activities of their referred “kasambahays” or household helpers as he moved for the amendment of Republic Act No 10381, or the “Domestic Workers Act”, which he authored 10 years ago.

In his Senate Bill No. 456 or “ An Act establishing greater responsibility and accountability on private employment agencies (PEA),” Estrada said this will provide safeguard measures to employers and their families from domestic workers with “criminal mind.”

“While we have seen its benefits for the kasambahays, there is a need to provide equal protection to their employers given the fact that the nature and place of their work are so intimate to the latter (employers),” he said in his statement.

Under his proposed measure, the PEAs must ensure that the domestic helper recruited and referred to employers have no criminal record and shall have the responsibility to ensure that there is sufficient information, such as bona fide residence and family background.

They must also secure clearances from barangay, police, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and birth certificates.

Estrada also introduced a sub-section in Section 36 of his proposed bill stating the liabilities of PEAs in relation to any criminal act committed by the domestic helper in the first year of employment and the accountability shall cease after one year from the first day of the domestic worker’s employment with the employer. (PNA) 

Photo credit: Official Gazette website