How to hire a yaya in Iloilo City: pay, interviews and the first week

To hire a yaya in Iloilo City, start with a clear childcare brief, interview candidates about your routine, and agree on pay and a written contract before a paid trial. For a regular domestic worker, the Region VI minimum is ₱6,500 per month under Wage Order RBVI-DW-07, effective 19 November 2025; this is a legal floor, not a surveyed market rate.

You can browse nanny profiles in Iloilo City and compare the people who appear when you search. Availability varies, so use the same questions and checks for each candidate.

What should go in your childcare brief?

Write down the job before contacting candidates. A short brief helps both of you see whether the hours, duties and location work.

Ask a stay-out candidate about their actual commute at the proposed times. If it is impractical, adjust the schedule together before making an offer. For a live-in role, discuss sleeping arrangements and privacy as well as duties; live-in does not mean being on call all day and night.

If this is your first hire, our first yaya guide covers the wider process.

How much should you budget for pay and benefits?

As of 3 November 2026, the NWPC Region VI table lists a ₱6,500 monthly minimum for domestic workers in Western Visayas, including Iloilo City. The order took effect on 19 November 2025. The table does not measure what families are offering, so agree a wage that reflects the actual duties and is at least the applicable floor. Check the NWPC for any newer order before hiring. For other locations, see the regional wage guide.

The Kasambahay Law's implementing rules cover regular yayas on live-in and live-out arrangements. They provide for daily and weekly rest, 13th-month pay and social security coverage. Discuss hours and rest before the start date and put them in the contract. Budget for employer contributions as well as wages; the SSS household employer page explains registration with SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG.

How can you compare candidates fairly?

Describe the same household routine to each person and ask open questions. For example:

• “How would you organise meals and naps for children of these ages?”
• “What would you do first if a child became ill while I was away?”
• “Which of the duties in this brief have you done before, and which would you like to discuss?”
• “Do the hours, rest day and travel work for you?”
• “What information would you need from us before starting?”

Take notes on the answers and give each candidate time to ask questions. Avoid sharing their personal documents or reference details in group chats.

With the candidate's consent, contact a previous employer or other reference. Confirm the dates and childcare duties, ask what worked well and what support was needed, and ask whether they would hire the person again. An ID, clearance, reference or profile badge checks only part of the picture: none guarantees safety. Combine checks with a paid trial, supervision and ongoing communication.

What should you agree before the paid trial?

The implementing rules require a written employment contract before service starts, in a language both parties understand. Agree the duties, compensation, hours, rest days, authorised deductions and other terms before the trial, and pay for the work. Use the kasambahay contract template to prepare, then check it against the DOLE standard contract and your circumstances.

Set a short trial period by agreement and explain who will supervise. Give the candidate a realistic routine and a chance to ask questions; do not leave a new hire alone with a child simply because a document or reference looked reassuring. At the end, discuss what went well, any concerns, and whether both parties want to continue.

What should happen in the first week?

Use a handover that fits your family:

• Give the yaya a signed contract copy and confirm the work schedule, rest day and payday.
• Write down each child's meals, naps, school routine and permitted pickups.
• Explain allergies and any medicine instructions provided by the child's doctor.
• Share emergency contacts and show the first-aid kit and exits.
• Demonstrate household routines, then watch and answer questions while the yaya practises.
• Check in at the end of each day and agree on any changes to duties or hours.
• Arrange barangay registration and check the registration and contribution steps with SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum wage for a yaya in Iloilo City?

The Region VI domestic worker minimum is ₱6,500 per month under Wage Order RBVI-DW-07, effective 19 November 2025. It is a legal floor, not a surveyed market rate.

Should a yaya trial be paid?

Yes. Agree the duties, hours and pay in writing before the trial starts, and pay the candidate for the work. A trial does not replace a written employment contract.

Does a clearance guarantee a safe hire?

No. An ID, clearance, reference and trial each provide different information; none guarantees safety. Ask for consent before contacting references and supervise the handover.

When your brief is ready, browse nanny profiles in Iloilo City and create a family account to start your search.