Employment agency also liable: House panel OKs bill for better protection of househelp

By Billy Begas

The House Committee on Labor and Employment has approved a measure amending the Batas Kasambahay law (Republic Act 10361) to ensure the protection of both the domestic worker and their employer.

Under House Bill 9144, the private employment agencies (PEAs) will be mandated to ensure that domestic helpers they place to their clients have no criminal records, and that there is sufficient information on their bonafide residence and family background through actual verification.

The measure also provides that PEAs shall be subsidiary liable to any criminal act committed by the domestic worker against the employer in the course of the domestic worker’s employment.

PEAs subsidiary liability will cease after one year from the first day of the domestic worker’s employment with the employer.

Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza, author of the bill said the it is the duty of the PEAs to conduct proper background check and screening of domestic workers before they are recommended for hiring to ensure the safety of their prospective employers and their property.

“It is but right the PEAs bear equal responsibility for any wrongdoing done by these workers,” said Atienza.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)