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country action: philippines

Take action on forced labour and exploitation of domestic workers in the Philippines

Domestic workers in the Philippines, the vast majority of whom are women and girls, are not given the same protections as other workers under labour laws and work in other people's homes hidden from public view. This leaves them particularly vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, and many are the victims of forced labour. Many domestic workers migrate from rural areas to the cities and are vulnerable to trafficking, as well as to debt bondage.

The Domestic Workers Bill, known popularly as the Batas Kasambahay, was first filed in 1995 and affords key protections to all domestic workers. For several years, the passage of the Batas Kasambahay has been delayed by Presidential impeachment proceedings and various other postponements.

The enactment of the Batas Kasambahay would be a vital step forwards in ensuring that domestic workers in the Philippines are not subject to abuse, exploitation and forced labour. Anti-Slavery International urges the Philippines Government to prioritise this legislation and ensure that it passes without further delay.

Click here to read the background information on this country action

Please act now! Write to the President of the Philippines, Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, urging her to make every effort to ensure that the Batas Kasambahay is enacted without further delay. Fill in your name, address and email below and click on submit.

This email will be sent to President Macapagal-Arroyo at corres@op.gov.ph

It is also very effective to send a letter. You can use the text below as a basis for your letter, although adapting it in your own words will have more of an impact.

Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President of the Republic of the Philippines,
Malacañang Palace ,
JP Laurel Street, San Miguel,
Manila NCR 1005, Philippines

Salutation: Dear President Macapagal-Arroyo

Thank you for your help. Please forward copies of any response that you receive to k.willingham@antislavery.org

Your message

Subject: Forced labour and exploitation of domestic workers in the Philippines

Your message

Subject:

Dear President Macapagal-Arroyo,

I am writing to express my concern about the plight of domestic workers in the Philippines, many of whom are trafficked into appalling conditions, including debt bondage, and face routine abuse at the hands of their employers.

I would like to congratulate your Government for bringing forward the Domestic Workers Bill, known as the Batas Kasambahay, which would enshrine in law key protections for domestic workers such as increased minimum wage, thirteenth month pay, regular rest days, mandatory registration and contracts, social security protection such as membership to State health insurance, provision of education, and better working conditions.

I am concerned that this crucial Bill, which has popular support from the public, has yet to complete its legislative passage.

Enactment of the Batas Kasambahay would be a major step forwards in ensuring that domestic workers in the Philippines are not subject to abuse, exploitation and forced labour. It would also set a precedent internationally and provide an example to other countries that exploitation and abuse of domestic workers anywhere should not be tolerated.

I urge you to make every effort to ensure that the passage of the Batas Kasambahay is prioritised, and that it passes without further delay.

Yours sincerely,

First name:

Last name:

Email:

Country

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Child domestics work long hours often for little or no pay, are vulnerable to abuse and are often denied their right to go to school
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