MANILA – Domestic workers cannot be required to perform non-household work without receiving additional pay, Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns (BWSC) Director Leilani Reynoso said.

Reynoso cited Republic Act 10361, or the Batas Kasambahay, which mandates that domestic workers performing tasks beyond their regular household duties must be given separate wages.

“A domestic worker cannot be assigned to perform tasks that are not covered by his or her contract as a domestic worker,” she said in a radio interview.

“If that will be the setup, there must be an agreement between the employer and the worker, wherein the domestic worker shall have additional income aside from what she earns as a domestic worker,” Reynoso added.

The law prohibits assigning domestic workers to commercial, industrial, or agricultural enterprises. It also requires that any work outside the household be compensated at no less than the existing minimum wage rate.

Reynoso emphasized that domestic workers must also receive social security benefits, including coverage under the Social Security System (SSS), Pag-IBIG, and PhilHealth. Live-in workers are entitled to rest days, proper accommodation, food, and medical care.

“The rights and benefits of a domestic worker are provided by the law,” she said.