How long should I keep a kasambahay employment contract?

RA 10361 section 11 and Rule II of its implementing rules do not state a retention period for the employer's contract copy. Keeping the signed contract and its earlier versions where you can find them is practical advice, not a legal rule.

Does uploading a contract to FamilyDesk file it with the barangay?

No. An upload stores a copy of a contract you have already signed. FamilyDesk does not sign contracts, send copies to your helper or submit anything to the barangay, so you still give those copies yourself.

Can my helper see the contract I attach in FamilyDesk?

A helper whose account is linked to their helper record can view the documents attached to that record. Give your helper their own signed copy as well, so they do not depend on the app to read it.

Which files can I attach to a helper record?

You can attach a signed employment contract or loan contract as a PDF, Word document, JPG, PNG or WebP file of up to 10 MB.

How to keep kasambahay employment contract records

Keep one signed, readable copy of each kasambahay employment contract, filed under your helper's name and the contract dates, and give your helper a separate copy of their own. The law requires the written contract and the copies; how you name, store and back up your file is up to you.

What the law requires

Under RA 10361 section 11, the employer and the domestic worker sign a written contract before work starts, in a language or dialect both understand. The worker receives a copy of the signed contract. Section 11 lists what it covers, including duties, the period of employment, compensation, authorized deductions, hours of work, rest days and leaves, board and lodging, any loan agreement and termination.

The implementing rules, Rule II, add detail. Section 5 asks for the contract in three copies. Section 6 says it should follow the DOLE standard contract, Form BK-1. Section 7 requires the employer to give one copy to the kasambahay and one to the Office of the Punong Barangay where the employer lives.

A practical filing checklist

The steps below are good recordkeeping habits, not legal requirements. They help you find the right contract quickly when a question comes up.

Keep a signed copy that is easy to read. If you photograph or scan the paper contract, check that every page, signature and date is legible before you put the original away.
Name each file with the helper's name, the document type and the contract start date, for example “Ana Santos employment contract 2026-11-01”.
When you sign a new contract, keep the older one and label it clearly, such as “superseded 2027-10-31”, so nobody mistakes it for the current terms.
Give your helper their own copy on paper or as a file they can open. Do not rely on them reading your copy in a shared folder or group chat.
Keep a loan agreement, if there is one, next to the contract it relates to.
Before you change apps or close an account, find your backup, open each file to confirm it works, and move it somewhere you control.

Where FamilyDesk fits

In FamilyDesk you can attach a signed employment contract or loan contract to a helper's record as a PDF, Word document, JPG, PNG or WebP file of up to 10 MB. A helper whose account is linked to their record can view the documents attached to it.

An upload is a stored copy. It does not sign the contract, check its terms, deliver the copies required by Rule II section 7 or file anything with your barangay. You remain responsible for those steps.

For pay records, read the kasambahay payslip recordkeeping guide. If you are choosing a tool, see the household app comparison or read what FamilyDesk manages.

Sources checked 28 October 2026: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic Act No. 10361, section 11; DOLE, Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 10361, Rule II, sections 5 to 7. This guide covers keeping contract records; it is not legal advice and does not cover wages, deductions or contract terms.