Finding a reliable and trustworthy kasambahay and yaya is no small feat. It’s because juggling a career, children’s needs, and household responsibilities can sap all your energy and patience. So, where do you start?
Whether it’s your first time or looking to change existing arrangements, make sure you’re prepared, too. Remember that an extra mouth to feed is a major financial decision that will impact your budget, lifestyle, and expenses.
In this practical guide, you’ll discover a few tips on how to hire a kasambahay or yaya — from understanding all the legal obligations to managing arrangements and how much they should get paid. Let’s get started.
Contents
- Can a yaya or kasambahay be an all-around?
- Decide if it’s a stay-in or stay out
- How much is the salary of a kasambahay in the Philippines?
- Kasambahay law: everything you need to know
- 5 practical tips for a smooth hiring process
Can a yaya or kasambahay be an all-around?
It depends on the individual’s skillsets and willingness to work full-time in an all-around setup. But remember, a nanny (yaya) and helper (kasambahay) are two distinct roles that can have many different duties in a home.
A yaya handles direct care of children. Usually, the tasks include:
- helping with homework
- preparing meals and snacks
- playing and engaging in recreational activities
Yayas may also be responsible for light housekeeping related to the children’s needs or laundry.
On the other hand, a kasambahay has broader responsibilities than a yaya. They are skillful in most house chores like:
- cleaning bathrooms
- dusting furniture
- vacuuming carpets and floors
- washing dishes
- grocery shopping
- cooking family meals
It’s important to differentiate between what a yaya and a kasambay do. It will help you create clear job descriptions when you’re ready to hire one. You can confidently lay out the expectations and responsibilities, so they know how to manage the home environment.
Having an all-around yaya or kasambahay is possible. But it depends on their skillset beyond those intended for childcare or general household chores.
For example, if your yaya can cook delicious meals, you could hire them for meal preparation (and possibly grocery shopping). If your kasambahay knows gardening, you could hire them for that task on top of the regular household chores.
Decide if it’s a stay-in or stay-out
Deciding if a yaya should stay in or out is one of the most important decisions a family can make on childcare. Moreover, it will also affect your finances significantly. Both options have pros and cons, so it’s crucial to weigh all these factors.
Pros of hiring a stay-in yaya or helper:
- Reliable childcare provider on hand at all times
- Expect around-the-clock care and attention for the child and household chores
- Create consistency in the environment as they become an integral part of the family
- Save money and time since the costs associated with transportation, hiring, and training are reduced
On the other hand, there are certain drawbacks to having a stay-in yaya or kasambahay.
Cons include:
- Limited or restricted on space if you have a small house
- Need to have a separate room for their privacy
- Other family members might not be comfortable living with a stranger due to privacy concerns
- Need to allot budget for meals, lodging, and toiletries
- Kasambahays and yayas may meddle in your parenting style and family culture
Of course, if you think having a stay-out yaya or kasambay is a better option, then make sure you also weigh the advantages and disadvantages.
Hiring a stay-out means you don’t need to worry about housing extra people in your home. You also won’t be dealing with any potential privacy issues that come along with it.
There isn’t as much emotional cost associated with parting since they aren’t permanently living in your home. But instead visiting on occasion as needed.
All said and done, however, if you’re looking for an all-around yaya who can handle multiple tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and childcare all at once, then hiring a stay-in would likely be best. They will always be available whenever required, giving you more flexibility if you work from home.
How much is the salary of a kasambahay in the Philippines?
The salary depends on the location. In Metro Manila, it ranges from ₱4,000 to ₱6,000, in Central Visayas, it’s ₱4,000 to ₱5,500, whereas Davao’s ₱4,500 per month. The monthly wage can vary depending on the tasks, working hours, and location.
A yaya may have a higher wage as it can be negotiated based on the skillsets and experience in caring for newborns and babies.
For example, a stay-in yaya or a kasambahay based in Metro Manila may earn anywhere from ₱5,000 to ₱12,000 monthly with complete benefits. Someone living further away from the metro may receive lesser amounts due to the lower cost of living in these areas.
Ultimately, employers should strive to provide their personnel with appropriate and just compensation for their efforts.
An overview of the Kasambahay Law
The Kasambay law, otherwise known as Republic Act No. 10361, provides support and protection for informal workers like yayas, kasambahays, cooks, gardeners, and all-around help.
This law doesn’t cover family drivers, service providers, and other informal workers who provide only occasional or sporadic work.
Here’s an overview of the law:
- The law permits those 15 years old or older to work as employed yayas or kasambahays.
- Workers under 18 years old must have consent from parents and guardians before employment and will have different work hours from those of legal age.
- Employers must create a contract in a language the worker understands, such as Tagalog or Taglish.
- The yaya or kasambay must have a copy of the contract, and another copy must be submitted to the municipality where she works.
- If hired via a private recruitment agency or a third party, the finder’s fee must not be charged to the employee.
- All kasambahays should receive their monthly wages in cash and be issued pay slips.
- The minimum wage must be by the amount assigned to each region.
- Metro Manila-based kasambahays have a minimum of P5,000. No deductions must be made unless there is a written agreement between the employer and the kasambahay.
- All kasambahays are entitled to receive 13th-month pay, the equivalent of the monthly wage or depending on the length of service.
- Kasambahays are entitled to have a weekly leave or day off. The rest day can be scheduled according to the agreement of the employer and domestic worker in the contract.
- Kasambahays are also entitled to have eight hours rest period every day.
- Employers are obligated to register their kasambahay as members of SSS, Philhealth and Pag-IBIG. They should shoulder the premium payments. If the kasambahay earns more than the minimum wage and above per month, it’s required to pay the appropriate share in the premium payments or contributions as the law mandates.
- If the kasambahay has rendered at least one year of service, they are entitled to have leave with pay of five days. The unused portion can’t be carried over to the succeeding years and is not convertible into cash.
Other rights and privileges of kasambahays
Aside from the privileges mentioned above, kasambahay are also entitled to:
- Enjoy the monthly wage and have the liberty to spend however they wish
- Proper treatment and a conducive and humane room to stay in
- Receive necessities such as food, toiletries, and safe sleeping arrangements
- Rest in case of sickness or injuries
- Right to have private communication, use of telephone, post office, or the internet in case of emergency
- Receive a certificate of employment
You can read all the provisions for more information and comprehensive details.
5 Practical tips for a smooth hiring process
Are you ready to hire a kasambahay for your home? Whether you’re looking for a housekeeper, nanny, cook, or other help around the house, check out these tips.
Bringing someone into your family is an exciting but nerve-wracking experience. But it doesn’t have to be complicated.
1. Check references and credentials
If the candidate has worked for other families before, ask those families about their experience with the applicant. It is also essential to ask for recommendations from friends and family.
Ask for proof of qualifications such as diplomas or certifications. Don’t forget to ask for copies of identification documents like NBI clearance or police clearance.
2. Interview multiple candidates
It’s better to interview many applicants so you can shortlist the qualified ones. It allows you to compare different applicants’ skills, experience, and personalities.
After interviewing each candidate, take detailed notes to have a reference. You may also ask each candidate the same set of questions to compare the responses and make better decisions.
3. Verify background history
This includes checking for criminal records, verifying employment history and educational background, and even doing drug testing if necessary.
Doing this will help ensure that the person hired is suitable for the position. It must be someone whom you can trust to take care of your home and children.
4. Discuss job expectations
Make sure you are clear about what duties are expected of them. Lay out the tasks like taking care of children’s needs like:
- meal preparations
- tidying up after use of common spaces like kitchen and bathroom
- light housework like dusting windowsills
- carpool duties like picking up/dropping off kids at school
Ensure they understand how many hours they will be working every day/week/month etc., You should also discuss salary expectations like how many days’ notice will have to be given in case either party wants out of the agreement.
5. Consider offering incentives to attract quality candidates
Offering incentives can be a great way to attract top-notch candidates that matches your profile of a kasambahay or yaya.
You may want to offer:
- additional vacation days
- paid sick or personal days
- commuting allowance
- health benefits to sweeten the deal
If you’re aiming for a long-term relationship, you can offer a bonus system that rewards longevity and reliability.
Final thoughts
It’s not easy to find the perfect yaya or kasambahay. But with a bit of help, you can narrow your options and eventually find someone who fits right into your household.
Just remember to follow the kasambahay law and always be on the lookout for red flags during the hiring process.
Do you have any other advice for hiring a yaya or kasambahay?