OFW
Expanded maternity
benefits, law in-waiting
Labor Secretary
Silvestre Bello III
Credit : dole.gov.ph
A
proposed law that
will further broaden
the maternity benefits
for working women
is awaiting signature
into law by President
Duterte, the labor
department said over the weekend.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said
the law in-waiting will extend the maternity leave period
to 105 days for female workers in the government and the
private sector, including those in the informal economy. It
is a priority legislation for the labor department, he said.
“We strongly support its passage into law to provide
the working women with ample maternal care and ensure
their safety and health. We have actively pushed the
passage of this bill,” Bello said.
The bill also underwent review by concerned
38
government agencies, including the tripartite council.
“We exerted efforts on this and I have high hopes it is
signed by the President very soon,” Bello said.
The DOLE chief underscored the proposed law’s
consistency with local and international instruments that
promote the rights of women.
“Female workers who avail of the benefits of the
expanded maternity benefits shall likewise be assured of
the security of tenure,” Bello said.
The expanded maternity bill aims to grant additional
maternity leave benefits to all female workers regardless
of civil status or the legitimacy of her child.
From the current 60 days, working women shall enjoy
105 days of maternity leave with full pay and an option to
be extended for an additional 30 days without pay.
Moreover, in case the woman worker qualified as a
solo parent, she shall be granted an additional 15-day
maternity leave with full pay.
In the government sector, the proposed law
is applicable to all female workers regardless of
employment status.
In the private sector, a female SSS member who has
paid at least three monthly contributions in the 12-month
period immediately preceding the semester of her
childbirth, miscarriage, or emergency termination of
pregnancy shall be paid her daily maternity benefit which
shall be computed based on her average monthly salary
credit for 105 days.
Women workers in the informal economy are likewise
entitled to maternity leave benefits if they have remitted
to the Social Security System at least three-month
contributions in the 12-month period immediately
preceding the semester of her childbirth, miscarriage, or
emergency termination of pregnancy.
Female national athletes are also covered by the
proposed expanded maternity leave benefits upon
evaluation of a physician from the Philippine Sports
Commission. The covered athlete shall continue receiving
her allowance and be entitled to the same maternity
benefits.
The International Labor Organization (ILO) Maternity
Protection Convention of 2000 sets the maternity leave
to 14 weeks, including a period of six weeks compulsory
leave after childbirth. At present, the Philippines has one
of the shortest duration of maternity leave in the ASEAN
region.
www.dole.gov.ph