How We Vet Helpers — and What the Kasambahay Law Means for Your Household

Inviting someone into your home to care for your children or run your household is an act of trust. This guide explains exactly how we help you check who you're hiring, and what Philippine law asks of both families and helpers once the working relationship begins.

How we verify helpers

Helpers submit their documents and references, and we verify them. Every profile then shows which checks that helper has passed, so you can see what's confirmed before you reach out. Not every helper has completed every check — the profile is honest about what's verified and what's still pending.

Government ID verification

A helper uploads a valid government-issued ID along with a selfie, and we check that the person matches the document. Once that's done, their profile shows their identity as confirmed against a valid government ID. This is the baseline that tells you the person you're talking to is who they say they are.

NBI clearance

The NBI clearance is a nationwide criminal-record check issued by the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation. Helpers can submit theirs, and we record the clearance along with its expiry date. On the profile you'll see whether an NBI clearance is on file, whether it has expired, or whether the helper hasn't submitted one yet.

NBI clearances expire — usually after a year — so if you're hiring, it's reasonable to ask for a current one even when a helper already has one on file.

Work reference checks

Helpers can list references from the households they've worked for before. We reach out to those references to confirm the helper actually worked with them. The profile shows how many of a helper's listed references we've been able to verify — for example, "2 of 3 work references verified."

Reading a helper's trust badges

Every profile carries a "Verified by helpers.ph" panel that lays out exactly which of these checks a helper has completed. It's designed to be honest rather than flattering: a helper who has only finished ID verification will show only that, with the rest marked as not yet verified.

Use the panel as a starting point, not a substitute for your own judgment. The strongest hires still come from a real conversation, a paid trial day, and paying attention to the red flags we cover in our hiring guide. Verification tells you who someone is; the interview tells you whether they're right for your family.

Your rights and obligations under the Kasambahay Law

Hiring a kasambahay (domestic worker) in the Philippines is governed by Republic Act No. 10361, better known as the Batas Kasambahay or Domestic Workers Act. It sets a floor of rights for helpers and clear obligations for the families who employ them. Here's the plain-English version — for the authoritative detail on your specific situation, check with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Put the agreement in writing

The law expects a written employment contract covering the helper's duties, salary, working hours, rest days, and benefits. A copy of the contract should be registered with the barangay where the employer lives. Even for informal-feeling arrangements, a clear written agreement protects everyone.

Minimum wage

There is no single national kasambahay wage. Minimum rates are set region by region through the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards. In Metro Manila (NCR), for example, the kasambahay minimum rose to ₱7,800 per month effective 7 February 2026, up from ₱7,000. Other regions set their own, generally lower, rates, and they change periodically — check the current figure for your area with DOLE's National Wages and Productivity Commission.

The minimum is a floor, not a market rate. To see what families in your area actually pay for the experience you need, use our salary calculator.

Rest periods

A helper is entitled to at least 8 hours of rest in each day, and to one uninterrupted 24-hour rest day every week. The specific rest day is agreed between the family and the helper.

13th month pay

A kasambahay who has worked at least one month in the calendar year is entitled to 13th month pay — one-twelfth of the basic salary they earned that year — paid on or before 24 December.

Annual leave

After one year of service, a helper is entitled to five days of paid service incentive leave each year.

Government benefits: SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG

Once a helper has completed one month of service, the family must enrol them in the Social Security System (SSS), PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG. The employer shoulders the contributions. If the helper's monthly salary is ₱5,000 or more, the helper pays a proportionate share.

Ending the arrangement fairly

Either party can end an open-ended arrangement by giving five days' written notice. Both sides also have "just causes" that allow immediate termination — serious misconduct, abuse, or a breach of the agreement, for instance. If a helper is dismissed unfairly, the law provides for the pay they've already earned plus an indemnity equal to 15 days' work.

Who can be a kasambahay

The law prohibits employing anyone under 15 years old. Helpers aged 15 to 17 are covered by additional protections, including limits on hazardous work.

If the law is ignored

Violations of the Batas Kasambahay carry fines of ₱10,000 to ₱40,000. This guide is a starting point rather than legal advice — for anything specific to your household, talk to DOLE or a lawyer.

Hiring with confidence

Verification and a fair, legal arrangement work together. Checking a helper's ID, background, and references tells you who you're bringing into your home; meeting the standards of the Kasambahay Law is what turns a good hire into a working relationship that lasts.

When you're ready, browse verified helper profiles and find the right person for your family.