Republic Act 7655 "AN ACT INCREASING THE MINIMUM WAGE OF

HOUSEHELPERS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE ARTICLE 143 OF PRESIDENTIAL

DECREE NO. 442, AS AMENDED"
Section 1. Subparagraphs (1), (2) and (3), Article 143 of Presidential Decree No. 442, as
amended, otherwise known as the "Labor Code of the Philippines" are hereby amended
to read as follows:
"ART. 143. Minimum wage. (a) Househelpers shall be paid the following
minimum wage rates;
(1) Eight hundred pesos (P800.00) a month for househelpers in Manila, Quezon,
Pasay and Caloocan cities and municipalities of Makati, San Juan, Mandaluyong,
Muntinlupa, Navotas, Malabon, Paraaque, Las Pias, Pasig, Marikina, Valenzuela,
Taguig and Pateros in Metro Manila and in highly urbanized cities;
(2) Six hundred fifty pesos (P650.00) a month for those in other chartered cities
and first class municipalities; and
(3) Five hundred fifty pesos (P550.00) a month for those in other municipalities;
Provided, That the employees shall review the employment contracts of their
househelpers every three (3) years with the end in view of improving the terms
and conditions thereof.
Provided, further, That those househelpers who are receiving at least One thousand
pesos (P1,000.00) shall be covered by the Social Security System (SSS) and be entitled
to all the benefits provided thereunder."
Sec. 2. Any violation of any provision of this Act shall be punished with an imprisonment
of not more than three (3) months or a fine of not more than Two thousand pesos
(P2,000.00)
or
both,
at
the
discretion
of
the
court.
Sec. 3. Any law, executive order, letter of instruction, or any part thereof, which is
inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or amended
accordingly.
Sec. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation, whichever
comes earlier.
Signed: August 19, 1993

CIVIL CODE PROVISIONS (Art. 1689-1699) CHAPTER 3-WORK AND LABOR

SECTION 1. - Household Service (n)
Art. 1689. Household service shall always be reasonably compensated. Any stipulation that
household service is without compensation shall be void. Such compensation shall be in addition
to the house helper's lodging, food, and medical attendance.
Art. 1690. The head of the family shall furnish, free of charge, to the house helper, suitable and
sanitary quarters as well as adequate food and medical attendance.
Art. 1691. If the house helper is under the age of eighteen years, the head of the family shall
give an opportunity to the house helper for at least elementary education. The cost of such
education shall be a part of the house helper's compensation, unless there is a stipulation to the
contrary.
Art. 1692. No contract for household service shall last for more than two years. However, such
contract may be renewed from year to year.
Art. 1693. The house helper's clothes shall be subject to stipulation. However, any contract for
household service shall be void if thereby the house helper cannot afford to acquire suitable
clothing.
Art. 1694. The head of the family shall treat the house helper in a just and humane manner. In no
case shall physical violence be used upon the house helper.
Art. 1695. House helper shall not be required to work more than ten hours a day. Every house
helper shall be allowed four days' vacation each month, with pay.
Art. 1696. In case of death of the house helper, the head of the family shall bear the funeral
expenses if the house helper has no relatives in the place where the head of the family lives,
with sufficient means therefor.
Art. 1697. If the period for household service is fixed neither the head of the family nor the house
helper may terminate the contract before the expiration of the term, except for a just cause. If
the house helper is unjustly dismissed, he shall be paid the compensation already earned plus
that for fifteen days by way of indemnity. If the house helper leaves without justifiable reason, he
shall forfeit any salary due him and unpaid, for not exceeding fifteen days.
Art. 1698. If the duration of the household service is not determined either by stipulation or by
the nature of the service, the head of the family or the house helper may give notice to put an
end to the service relation, according to the following rules:
(1) If the compensation is paid by the day, notice may be given on any day that the
service shall end at the close of the following day;
(2) If the compensation is paid by the week, notice may be given, at the latest on the first
business day of the week, that the service shall be terminated at the end of the seventh
day from the beginning of the week;
(3) If the compensation is paid by the month, notice may be given, at the latest, on the
fifth day of the month, that the service shall cease at the end of the month.
Art. 1699. Upon the extinguishment of the service relation, the house helper may demand from
the head of the family a written statement on the nature and duration of the service and the
efficiency and conduct of the house helper.

DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 04 Series of 1999

HAZARDOUS WORK AND ACTIVITIES TO PERSONS BELOW 18 YEARS OF AGE
SECTION 1.
Basis. This Guidelines is being issued pursuant to Article 139(c), Book III of the Labor
Code of the Philippines, as amended, and its implementing rules and regulations, and
Republic Act No. 7658, An Act Prohibiting the Employment of Children Below 15 Years of
Age in Public and Private Undertakings, Amending for this Purpose Section 12, Article VIII
of Republic Act No. 7610 (otherwise known as the Special Protection of Children Against
Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.).
SECTION 2.
Policy.- (a) The employment of a person below eighteen (18) years of age in an
undertaking which is hazardous or deleterious in nature as identified in this Guidelines
shall be prohibited.(b) The employment of children below fifteen (15) years of age in any
undertakings is likewise prohibited, except only in employment that would not endanger
their life, safety ,health and morals, or impair their normal development, and in any
event subject to the requirements of Republic Act No. 7658.
SECTION 3.
Coverage.- The following work and activities are hereby declared hazardous to persons
below 18 years of age without prejudice to Section 14, Article VIII of Republic Act No.
7610; to DOLE Memorandum Circular No. 2, Series of 1998 (Technical Guidelines for
Classifying Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Establishments, Work places and Work
Processes) and to other work and activities that may subsequently be declared as such:
1. Work which exposes children to physical, psychological or sexual abuse, such as in:

lewd shows (strip teasers, burlesque dancers, and the like)

cabarets
bars (KTV, karaoke bars)
dance halls
bath houses and massage clinics
escort service
gambling halls and places

2. Work underground, under water, at dangerous heights or at unguarded heights of two

meters and above, or in confined places, such as in:
mining
deep sea fishing/diving
installing and repairing of telephone, telegraph and electrical lines; cablefitters
painting buildings
window cleaning
fruit picking involving climbing
3. Work with dangerous machinery, equipment and tools, or which involves manual
handling or transport of heavy loads, such as in:

logging
construction
quarrying
operating agricultural machinery in mechanized farming
metal work and welding
driving or operating heavy equipment such as pay loaders, backhoes, bulldozers,
cranes, pile driving equipment, trailers, road rollers, tractor lifting appliances
scaffold winches, hoists, excavators and loading machines
operating or setting motor-driven machines such as saws, presses, and wood
-working machines

operating power-driven tools such as drills and jack hammers

stevedoring
working in airport hangars
working in warehouses
working in docks

4. Work in unhealthy environment which may expose children to hazardous processes, to

temperatures, noise levels or vibrations damaging to their health, to toxic, corrosive,
poisonous, noxious, explosive, flammable and combustible substances or composites, to
harmful biological agents, or to other dangerous chemicals including pharmaceuticals,
such as in:

manufacture or handling of pyrotechnics

tanning
pesticide spraying
blacksmithing, hammer smiths, forging
extracting lard and oil
tiling and greasing of heavy machinery
fiber and plastic preparing
bleaching, dyeing, and finishing of textiles using chemicals
embalming and as undertakers
painting and as finishers in metal craft industries
applying of adhesive/solvent in footwear, handicraft, and wood work industries
brewing and distilling of alcoholic beverages
recycling of batteries and containers or materials used or contaminated with
chemicals
working in abattoirs or slaughterhouses
garbage collecting
handling of animal manure in poultry houses or as fertilizers (compost and other
decaying matter included) in farming
working in hospitals or other health care facilities
assisting in laboratories and x-ray work
welding
working in furnaces and kilns
working in discotheques
working in video arcades

5. Work under particularly difficult conditions such as work for long hours or during the
night, or work where the child is unreasonably confined to the premises of the employer.
SECTION 4.
Applicability of this Guideline to Domestic or Household Service.
-Persons between 15 and 18 years of age may be allowed to engage in domestic
or household service, subject in all cases to the limitations prescribed in Nos. 1 to 5
of Section 3 herein.
SECTION 5.
Enforcement.
- The labor standards enforcement officers of the Department of Labor and Employment
shall use this Guidelines in monitoring the compliance with labor standards and laws
related to child labor which provides for only two exceptions allowing children below
fifteen years of age to be employed provided such employment would not endanger their
life, safety, health and morals, nor impair their normal development.
SECTION 6.
Separability Clause.
- If any part or provision of this Guidelines is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the
remaining provisions not affected thereby shall continue in full force and effect.
This Department Order shall take effect fifteen days after its complete publication in two
(2)newspaper of general circulation. Accordingly, Department Order No. 4, approved on
June 8, 1973, is hereby superseded.

(Sgd.)
BIENVENIDO E. LAGUESMA
Secretary September 21, 1999