Staying at home to raise the kids, not to mention run the household, is a massive sacrifice that moms would not hesitate to take on. It’s a tough job — even harder than going to work — that moms half jokingly say they deserve to be paid for it. Now, a bill has been filed in Congress that seeks to compensate stay-at-home moms for their unpaid work in the household.
Under House Bill 8875, or “Housewives Compensation Act,” stay-at-home-moms (SAHM) will be given a monthly Php2,000 financial assistance to be provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). It applies to “all housewives whose family’s economic status falls below the poverty threshold, who work as full-time housewives, and do not have part-time nor home-based work that is compensated.”
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“The State must therefore recognize the work of stay-at-home women, mothers, or housewives as valuable economic activity. It is time to appreciate their worth and contribution in nation-building,” writes Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, who is the principal author of the bill. “The homemaker or housewife deserves at least an amount equivalent of a minimum wage, considering that household work is also a full-time job.”
To receive the compensation, the SAHM must meet the following requirements:
- The child or children in the family must be enrolled in a public school, attending at least 85 percent of the school year’s classes
- The child or children must exhibit responsible behavior
- The family attends a quarterly barangay assembly on empowering members of the family to be responsible members of the community.
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Moms react to Housewives Compensation Act
Over at our Facebook page, we asked our followers what they thought of this proposed bill. As expected, our moms had various opinions.
1. The amount is too little, but it is much appreciated
Some moms said the amount is NOT enough to cover the cost of childcare, but it can be a big help to SAHMs. “Lalo na sa panahong ito, kada kibot gastos,” said Mujer Belleza. “Kahit pa may pinagkakakitaan ako, [at] responsibility bilang ina, kung may ganyan talaga ay ‘big thank you’ po. Pandagdag sa puhunan.”
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2. The government should provide alternative means of livelihood instead
A lot of moms quoted the adage, “Give a man a fish, and you will feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you will feed him for a lifetime,” saying that the government should instead boost livelihood training and provide better childcare options.
“Give them skills training instead para matulungan nila asawa nila sa finances ng household nila,” said Shiela Lumagas.
Mom Aubrey Angeles-Villanueva adds, “Pwede rin free classes na makakatulong sa housekeeping at parenting. Imbis na allowance, financial assistance [para] pang-capital sa business.”
Mom Aljan Intia, who is a SAHM wishes that instead of an allowance, the government can provide a law requiring offices to have a daycare or allow moms to bring their children to work, just like how other countries do it.CONTINUE READING BELOWwatch nowWhat other parents are reading
3. There shouldn’t be a price tag for what mothers do.
Many moms felt insulted that the government needs to put a price tag on a SAHM’s obligations. “Being a mom is a responsibility, not a career,” said Vanette Abenasa.
Two moms said that being a mom is priceless. “You are worth more than this,” said Mary Jane Quemano. “Empowering you will help you feel much better.”
On that note, one mom said, “Isn’t household work a family responsibility?” Another stated that it is not solely the wife or mom’s responsibility. Dads and partners must do their share, too.
Unsurprisingly, there was a lot of hugot from working moms, who are expected to balance having a career while raising the kids. “Give us enough compensation first,” said one mom, while others wondered why there needed to be a distinction between stay-at-home and working moms when being a mother is difficult in itself.What other parents are reading
Moms should help uplift each other
One mom who reacted to our post when it was shared on a Facebook group said the proposed law provides an avenue for a “better discussion on why we should take care of mothers who lose the opportunity to earn more because they are caring for their kids.”
A former SAHM herself, she shares that it was difficult to do anything that was not baby related when you have a newborn, most especially because childcare support (like daycare options) is limited in this country. “I can just imagine how other moms with no access to the resources that I have find it even more difficult,” she says.
Like some of the moms, she said it would be better for the government to give out food stamps or set up food banks and even provide coupons that mothers can exchange for baby food or clothes. “At the end of the day, a lot of mothers willingly lose the opportunity to earn not because they are lazy but because they want their kids to be taken care of,” she says. “Having mothers who are less stressed and overworked because they are sure their kids won’t go to sleep hungry would be beneficial for the society as a whole.”
“I strongly believe we should create a culture where we have a government whom we can rely on to help its citizens who are in need,” she shares. “In an ideal world, the government is there to serve the people. Free and quality education for all, healthcare for all, and social support for all. But that is a community effort.”
They say it takes a village to raise a child. While this proposed bill aims to help those who truly need it, it should not make us question whether the life of a working mom is harder than a mom who stays at home and vice-versa. It also shouldn’t measure the worth of a stay-at-home mom. Motherhood is an extremely challenging job, but parenting isn’t just the mom’s responsibility — mom and dad should team up to raise the kids. And yes, that includes household work.ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWWhat other parents are reading
