JOLO, Sulu — In a move to uplift the welfare of domestic workers, locally known as kasambahay, the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) conducted an orientation on Batas Kasambahay and the Productivity Enhancement Program on April 14.
A total of 44 kasambahay attended the session, which was designed to raise awareness about their rights under the Batas Kasambahay and provide them with productivity-boosting knowledge and skills. The initiative also aimed to help employers better understand their legal responsibilities, paving the way for more harmonious and respectful employer-employee relationships.
MOLE-Sulu Provincial Director Jemimah K. Amin-Ilaji underscored the importance of mutual understanding between workers and employers.
“It is important for them to know what their rights and obligations are, as well as what their employers’ rights are, and how they can interact with them,” Ilaji explained.
Adding to the discussion, Atty. Datu Haris Pinguiaman and Atty. Aia Sadaya-Binangon, legal counsels of the ministry, shared practical legal insights to help guide the participants in navigating their roles and responsibilities.
In a related effort to improve labor conditions in Sulu, MOLE’s Bangsamoro Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (BTWPB) spearheaded a public consultation on April 13. The session aimed to gather stakeholder input on possible minimum wage adjustments in the province.
The consultation brought together representatives from employers, employees, and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), along with officials from the Ministry of Trade, Investments, and Tourism (MTIT), the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Barangay Local Government Units (BLGUs), and other key stakeholders.
This open dialogue allowed participants to gain a deeper understanding of the local economic landscape, while ensuring that different perspectives were heard as the board works toward setting a fair and sustainable wage structure that promotes both social equity and economic growth.
Through these initiatives, MOLE continues to demonstrate its commitment to protecting workers’ rights, enhancing productivity, and fostering inclusive development—not only in Sulu but across the entire Bangsamoro region.