Batas Kasambahay is the core legislative reform agenda of the Visayan Forum (VF) Foundation. Today, there are different versions of the bill, reflecting its dynamic evolution within a decade. Despite delays in its approval, continuous consultation in the ground have already generated commitments and revitalized actions across many sectors

Evolution of Batas Kasambahay

• In 1996, Senator Francisco Tatad filed a Senate Bill for Househelpers during the 10^th Congress, responding to the recommendations during the 1^st National Consultation on CDWs in the Philippines
  
• By 1997, representatives from different Asian countries vowed to lobby similar legislations after the First Regional Consultation on CDWs in Asia
  
• In 1998, the global community noticed the plight of child domestic workers as the Philippines kick-launched the Global March Against Child Labor, a worldwide movement instrumental in the approval of ILO Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labor
  
• In 1999, Jack Enrile filed during the 11^th Congress the most comprehensive version of the law, naming it “Batas Kasambahay.” In support of this move, VF immediately launched comprehensive multi-sectoral consultations in Batangas, Davao, Bacolod, and Manila leading to a strong consensus on the need for a Magna Carta for Domestic Workers.
  
• Within a year by 2000, the 11^th Congress unanimously approves HB 5804 known as the “Magna Carta for Domestic Workers or Batas Kasambahay;” however, the Senate counterpart version reached only  the 1^st reading.
  
• Again in 2001, the 12^th Congress filed and unanimously approved the Batas Kasambahay, but the presidential impeachment proceedings cut short lobbying at the Senate
  
• In 2003, the 13^th Congress started to feel international pressure through the joint efforts by VF and Anti-Slavery International launching massive letter- writing campaign to legislature
  
• In 2004, Jack Enrile again introduced Batas Kasambahay as House Bill 1606; Rep. Carmen L. Cari also filed House Bills 3118 and 3119, to increase minimum wage and set mandatory PhilHealth coverage for all househelpers, respectively. The Senate Committee on Labor and Employment starts hearings for SB 1772 filed by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada; SB Nos 202, 860, 1678 and 1692 were also filed by Pimentel, L. Estrada, Santiago, Villar and Lapid
  
• Since 2005, Local government units started passing local ordinances to register and provide programs for domestic workers. These include Quezon City, Bacolod, and Makati. New drafts are also for approval in the cities of Baguio , Batangas, Davao, Bulacan, Daet and lately Mandaluyong, Marikina and Taguig.
  
• Local and overseas domestic workers jointly call for the swift passage of Batas Kasambahay as the first priority Ten-Point Agenda during the first National Domestic Workers Summit held in 2005
  
• Over one million signatures in favor of the swift passage of the Batas Kasambahay bill were gathered and presented to the Senate in 2005.   
  
• According to a 2005 survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations, 87% of Filipinos strongly agree that there should be a law addressing the domestic work sector.
  
• The Philippines finally ratifies ILO Convention 29 on Forced Labor Convention
  
• On April 24, 2006, President Arroyo issued Presidential Proclamation 1051, which set aside April 30th as “a special day to honor and give recognition to the hidden, yet massive army of everyday workers, to generate greater awareness of the importance and contribution of domestic workers.”  A few days later on April 30th, 2006, the nation celebrated its first official National Domestic Workers’ Day or Pambansang Araw ng Kasambahay.
  
• November 14, 2006: Senator Jinggoy Estrada delivers privilege speech in support of the bill. Interepelations immediately followed. Proponents are expecting the bill to be approved before the end of the year.