A MEASURE bill seeking to provide additional compensation and protection to local domestic helpers might again be sent to the archives if both chambers of Congress fail to approve the measure before the legislature takes a long break on February next year.

Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, principal author of the said bill in the Senate, raised this concern after both houses of Congress failed to harmonize the disagreeing provisions of the Kasambahay Bills before they went on a two-week break on October 19.

Estrada, however, is optimistic that Congress will be able to pass the said measure and have it signed by President Benigno Aquino 3rd before the campaign period for the 2013 midterm elections kicks off.

“If all things go favorably, we can submit the Congress-approved version of Kasambahay Bill to President Aquino by November. The landmark legislation for all domestic workers can be enacted into law before the year ends. I believe it is the perfect present for all kasambahay this Christmas,” the senator said.

Senate Bill 78 or the Kasambahay Bill which was passed as early as December 2010, seeks to increase the minimum monthly wage of domestic workers from P800 to P2,500 in the National Capital Region; from P 650 to P2,000 in chartered cities and first-class municipalities; and from P500 to P1,500 in other municipalities.

All household helpers will be covered by the Social Security System, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Home Development Mutual Fund, and the Employees Compensation Commission under the proposed measure.

Meanwhile, House Bill 6144 which was passed in September seeks to create a special law to be known as “Domestic Workers Act,” which enumerates the rights and privileges of domestic workers and establishes standards on pre-employment, employment terms and conditions, and post-employment.

It also contains a provision for the regulation of private employment agencies deploying domestic workers.

The scheduled bicameral conference committee early this month was postponed after members of the House of Representatives insisted that the regional wage board, not the congress, should determine the base pay for house helps.

Estrada, however, insisted that it would be better if the congress will set the base pay first and then allow the wage board comes out with its rate a year after the implementation of the law.

The Senator wanted such kind of set up to make sure that the base pay for domestic helpers will not be lower than what the congress has set.

He noted that he is willing to compromise and allow the wage board set the base pay, but it should be the congress that should provide the initial rate.