Recruitment firms in Bahrain have rejected a decision by the Philippine government to increase the minimum wage of Filipino domestic workers abroad, saying the move would affect hundreds of households in the kingdom and force them to hire help from other countries.
They have asked employers and agencies to reconsider the wage hike and called for direct government consultations on the matter between the two countries.
The Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) last month rolled out a comprehensive set of reforms to enhance the protection of overseas Filipino domestic workers, including a monthly wage increase from $400 to $500.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said at the time that the new minimum wage was the result of six months of consultations with stakeholders and would be integrated into the employment contracts.
The rule is expected to come into force from October 22.
The decision, officials said, aims to improve the safety, welfare and career development of household workers.
Protection package
1. Among the reforms cited by Mr Cacdac is an annual medical check-up, which will be initially implemented voluntarily and will later become mandatory, to be funded via the DMW Aksyon Fund.
2. A mandatory “know your employer” video call would also be put in place, which would become a requirement before contracts are signed, so workers can personally verify who they will work for. This would also benefit employers who will be able to meet the worker they might be hiring, to ensure transparency and informed consent.
3. A digital monitoring system dubbed “Kamusta Kabayan” (How Are You, Countryman) would also be conducted by designated welfare case officers via emails or calls, to allow the Philippine government to check and evaluate the welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
4. The DMW also plans to separate job categories between domestic workers and caregivers, noting that many household workers end up performing caregiving duties without recognition or proper pay.
5. Stricter housing standards for recruitment agencies, ensuring decent accommodation for workers waiting for deployment.
6. The DMW would also enhance its whitelisting policy for recruitment agencies. Only agencies with a proven compliance record and ethical practices will be allowed to deploy workers abroad, while non-compliant agencies will be sanctioned and removed from the list.
Bahrain Recruiters Society president Muna Almulla, alongside other manpower firms, attended a conference hosted by the Philippines Embassy recently, during which they were briefed on the new rules to be introduced.
“Recruitment firm representatives attended the meeting and have outright rejected the $100 monthly wage hike for Filipino domestic workers due to several factors that were not considered,” Ms Almulla told the GDN.
“This decision will affect employers, employees and recruitment agencies.
“Domestic workers from the Philippines who are well respected in Bahrain will run the risk of no longer being the first choice of employers (including in other Gulf states), who can easily hire skilled and Arabic-speaking maids from Uganda, Ghana and other countries.
“A new door will open for other nationalities who have the right skills to work as a housemaid, and it will be cost effective to hire them.”
Ms Almulla added that the new wage standard will affect semi-skilled maids, as employers would want highly skilled professionals if they agree to the revised salary, and expect more work.
She said that, according to the rule, current Bahraini households which have hired Filipino housemaids, will have to revise their salaries once their contract is due (post-October 22).
Amal Buerki, who runs a manpower firm, said authorities in Manila should be flexible rather than announcing a decision without properly consulting the stakeholders.
“There should be a government-to-government consultation on the matter immediately, so that a clear and fair decision can be made,” she said.
“A decision like this needs to take into account the economic condition and cost of living standards in the host nations. For example, there are more Filipino domestic workers employed in the Gulf countries than Singapore or other countries.
“A one-size-fits-all approach of a standardised salary expectation cannot be implemented, as every country has its own challenges.”
Ms Buerki said household workers from the Philippines are respected globally, especially in Bahrain and neighbouring Gulf states, where they are considered a part of the family.
“We do not want to lose them because a monthly wage hike of $100 from next month will affect many families and eventually result in recruitment firms hiring maids from other countries.”
Ms Buerki and Ms Almulla both highlighted one of the points raised by the DMW was a mandatory video call before hiring of a domestic worker, which they stressed was already being done by recruitment firms in Bahrain.
“We would request all relevant stakeholders to discuss this matter and be more flexible before the implementation of the wage hike,” said Ms Almulla.
“GCC countries have always accepted and respected people of all nationalities.”
The society is already in talks with the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) and ministries to step up and take up the matter for proper consultation.
The two members of the association also met Strategic Thinking Bloc spokesman MP Khalid Bu Onk to discuss the issue with decision makers.
“We will raise the topic with all parties concerned as legislators, and fully understand the current situation,” Mr Bu Onk told the GDN.
“Government entities in Bahrain should be involved in all talks and decisions regarding this wage hike matter.”
He said all legal options need to be reviewed before the “forced implementation” of the rule.
The DMW estimates that about 20 to 30 per cent of total OFWs deployed yearly are domestic workers.
There were more than 4.5 to 5 million domestic workers in the GCC in 2022.
Skilled workers, including domestic workers from the Philippines, are highly sought after and are particularly concentrated in the six Gulf nations.
LMRA data for the second quarter of 2023 showed there were 78,900 domestic workers, including males, employed in Bahrain of which the top nationality was the Philippines (21,617 household workers).
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