A House bill which intends to allow 100-day maternity leave with 30-day unpaid extension for working pregnant women in public and private sectors has passed the committee level and has been endorsed for plenary deliberations.
DIWA party-list Representative Emmeline Y. Aglipay-Villar, principal author of the bill, said the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality approved the pro-women measure and endorsed the proposed benefits for plenary discussions.
“We approved the substitute bill and the committee report to help pregnant women nurture their babies during the first 100 days. On top of the 100 days, an extension of 30 days without pay will be permitted,” she said of the bill.
“Families are the building blocks of our nation, and the State is mandated to protect them, as well as the primary duty and right of parents to raise their children. This is particularly important when a child first enters the world, as studies have shown the immense benefits to the presence of the mother during those first few weeks of life,” Aglipay-Villar added.
Under the proposal, working pregnant women can avail the 30-day extended leave period withot pay provided that the head of the agency shall be informed in writing at least 45 days before the ned of the regular maternity leave.
The bill also mandates women employees in the private sector with at least three monthly contributions in the 12-month period immediately preceding the semester of her childbirth or miscarriage to be paid her daily maternity benefit, which shall be computed based on the average monthly salary credit.
That amounts to 100 days - regardless if the deliver is normal or through caesarian section - or 60 days if the female employee would suffer a miscarriage.
The bill tasks the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the Social Security System (SSS) to review the maternity leave benefits of women employees in the government and private sectors.
Once enacted, the implementing rules and regulations shall be drafted by the Civil Service Commission, the Department of Labor and Employment, GSIS and SSS.
Source / Image: Manila Bulletin
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