The Philippine government proposed for 100% minimum wage hike of Filipino housemaids abroad since they are considered as the best workers among other nationalities.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) chief Rosalinda Baldoz said that the government is pushing package reforms that seek to improve the monthly salaries of Filipino domestic helpers.

“We are working on various policy reforms, including raising the minimum wage of domestic helpers from the current $200 to $400,” Baldoz said.

According to Baldoz, Filipinos has been deployed in various countries over the past 40 years but salary of domestic helpers has not yet seen an increase.

“The job market for domestic helpers has been cornered by Filipinos for the past four decades, so it’s about time that we raise their minimum salaries,” she said.

Baldoz also said that aside from pushing the minimum wage increase of Filipino DH, the POEA is also planning for a reform that will “professionalize and empower” the thousands of Filipino maids deployed overseas.

She added that the POEA is planning to implement reforms that include requiring outbound Filipino domestic helpers to undergo skills training and orientation prior to their deployment.

Contrary to allegations that foreign employers will be discouraged from hiring Filipino DH when  the new policy reforms was implemented, Baldoz said that foreign employers will still hire them since they are best workers.