Hiring 5-min read · Updated 25 July 2026

Yaya vs babysitter vs kasambahay: what's the difference?

Three words Filipino families use almost interchangeably — but they mean different things legally and practically. Here's the plain-English breakdown, and how to know which one you actually need.

A caregiver and a young child at home together

Quick answer: Kasambahay is the legal umbrella term (RA 10361) for any domestic worker in a private household. A yaya is a kasambahay whose main job is childcare, usually full-time or live-in. A babysitter is typically occasional or part-time childcare, often paid per hour or session. Every yaya is a kasambahay — not every kasambahay is a yaya.

The three terms, defined plainly

Kasambahay

The legal term under Batas Kasambahay (RA 10361) for anyone employed to do domestic work in a private household — childcare, housekeeping, cooking, driving, gardening, or laundry. If you employ someone regularly in your home for any of these roles, they are your kasambahay under the law, with the wages, benefits, and protections that come with it.

Yaya

A yaya is a kasambahay whose primary responsibility is childcare — feeding, bathing, supervising, and generally caring for a child, usually on a full-time or live-in basis with an ongoing employment relationship. "Yaya" describes the role; "kasambahay" describes the legal category that role sits inside.

Babysitter

In everyday PH usage, "babysitter" usually means occasional or part-time childcare — an evening out, a weekend, or irregular hours — often paid per session or per hour rather than a monthly wage. A babysitter you book once, informally, is different from a babysitter who works your household every weekday afternoon; the second arrangement functions like a yaya and is treated as one under the law.

Side-by-side comparison

	Yaya	Babysitter	Kasambahay (other roles)
Scope	Childcare, usually full-time	Childcare, usually occasional	Housekeeping, cooking, driving, etc.
Hours	Full-time or live-in	Hourly or per session	Full-time, live-in or live-out
Typical pay	₱10,000–₱25,000/month (Metro Manila, 2026)	Per hour or per session	Similar monthly structure to a yaya, by role
Legal status	Kasambahay under RA 10361	Kasambahay if the arrangement is regular	Kasambahay under RA 10361
Contract required?	Yes	If regular, yes	Yes

Which one does your family actually need?

You need a yaya if…

You need consistent, full-time or live-in childcare — someone who's part of your household's daily rhythm, not just occasional coverage.

You need a babysitter if…

You need occasional evening, weekend, or short-notice coverage — a handful of hours here and there, not a standing daily arrangement.

You need a kasambahay in a different role if…

Childcare isn't the main need — you're looking for help with cleaning, cooking, driving, or general household support instead.

One practical note: if a "babysitter" ends up working your household every weekday, the informal label stops mattering — legally and practically, that's a yaya, and the same Batas Kasambahay obligations (contract, minimum wage, SSS/PhilHealth/Pag-IBIG) apply.

Verification matters regardless of the label

Whichever type of help you're hiring, the same safety step applies: confirm a government ID matches the person's face and name before you hire, and check at least one reference. On Pinoyaya, every helper — yaya, babysitter, or kasambahay in another role — completes identity verification before her profile is visible. See what "identity verified" actually means.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a yaya and a kasambahay?

A kasambahay is the legal umbrella term under RA 10361 for any domestic worker in a private household — including yayas, housekeepers, cooks, and drivers. A yaya is specifically a kasambahay whose main job is childcare. Every yaya is a kasambahay, but not every kasambahay is a yaya.

What is the difference between a yaya and a babysitter?

A yaya is typically a full-time or live-in childcare worker with an ongoing employment relationship, covered by Batas Kasambahay. A babysitter is usually part-time or occasional, often paid per hour or per session, and may not have the same standing employment relationship or benefits.

Is a babysitter covered by Batas Kasambahay?

It depends on the arrangement. A regular, ongoing babysitting arrangement in your household can count as kasambahay employment under RA 10361. A genuinely occasional, one-off booking (like a single evening) typically does not. When in doubt, treat a recurring arrangement as covered.

Which one does my family actually need — yaya, babysitter, or kasambahay for other duties?

If you need full-time or live-in childcare, look for a yaya. If you need occasional evening or weekend coverage, a babysitter fits better. If you need broader household help beyond childcare — cleaning, cooking, driving — you're looking for a kasambahay in a different role.

Do yaya, babysitter, and kasambahay get paid differently?

Yes, typically. Live-in yayas are usually paid monthly (₱10,000–₱25,000 in Metro Manila in 2026); babysitters are often paid hourly or per session for occasional work; other kasambahay roles follow the same monthly-wage structure as a yaya, scaled to the role and region.