DAMMAM: With the Philippine government sticking to its position that the monthly minimum pay for domestic workers is $400, employers are anticipated to resort to “paper compliance” in order to meet the terms of the work contract. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has rejected the recent proposal of the Saudi National Recruitment Committee (SANARCOM) of a $200 monthly salary plus $10 for four weekends, or an additional $40, making a total of $240. Thus, the deployment of Filipino housemaids has remained suspended. In addition to the $200 plus $40 proposal, SANARCOM has brought out a number of plans to convince the Philippine government that it is protecting and guaranteeing the rights of domestic workers. Among what SANARCOM calls packaged welfare and protection programs for domestic workers are the establishment of Saudi mega recruitment companies that will act as general service companies in recruiting and bringing in foreign workers, including housemaids and family drivers; mandatory insurance coverage paid by employers; assistance in remitting the earnings of workers to their families; and the establishment of hotlines to receive the complaints and grievances of foreign workers. “Notwithstanding these so-called welfare and protection plans, our government is determined to see the implementation of the $400 minimum wage, a fair compensation that is universally accepted,” a Filipino welfare official in the Eastern Province told Saudi Gazette. He said the stalemate in the housemaid wage issue may result in “paper compliance” by employers as a means of circumventing the salary range required by POEA. “‘Paper compliance' is an easy way to circumvent the $400 monthly salary rate. Employers agree to the terms on paper and then resort to contract substitution, convincing housemaids to accept reduced pay, or failure to pay the workers what is due them,” the welfare official said. According to Philippine welfare officials, “paper compliance” also existed with the old $200 pay rate with employers violating the terms of the employment contract. “Imagine how much more this will happen with the $400 rate,” they said. Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) are now discussing management options on how to deal with the expected “paper compliance” of employers as the deadlock regarding the $400 minimum rate for domestic workers drags on.
