By PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter
MANILA — Considering their role in the development of children, day care center workers must compensated in “the best way,” according to Sen. Cynthia Villar.
Day care workers help mold the character of children, so their welfare and working condition must be addressed, she said.
Villar recently filed Senate Bill 2336, or the “Magna Carta for Day Care Workers.”
Under the measure, day care workers must receive a monthly salary of between P13,000 and P17,000.
Benefits such as leave, insurance and retirement benefits, and free medical examination and treatment should also be afforded them, it said.
Day care workers “provide our children not only with preschool training but also a second family environment,” Villar said.
Section 7 of the bill provides that qualified day care workers are required to render eight working hours a day. Additional compensation will be given them for services beyond the required working hours, it said.
A day care worker must be of legal age, has at least a Career Sub-professional eligibility and training in early childhood care and development, Villar explained.
Those who do not meet such requirements but were already working as day care workers should not be disqualified, she clarified.
However, they will be required to complete a day care worker training course under the Department of Social Welfare and Development, she said.
“This bill guarantees them security of tenure and provides them with compensation befitting the status and role they perform,” said Villar./PN
