In the Philippines, the current maternity leave of 60 (for normal delivery) or  78 (for c-sections) days is less than the 98-day minimum requirement of the International Labor Organization.

The Senate on Monday, January 18  approved on third and final reading a bill that pushes for a 100-day maternity leave in the public and private sectors. Senators voted 19-0 to pass Senate Bill 2982 also known as the proposed Expanded Maternity Leave Law of 2015.

The Expanded Maternity Leave Law of 2015, aims to provide mothers with ample transition time to regain health and overall wellness as well as to assume their maternal roles before resuming full-time work. It would also give mothers sufficient financial support while on maternity leave, she added.

They can also avail of an additional maternity leave of 30 days, without pay, provided that the employee gives the head of the agency due notice, in writing, 45 days before the end of her ordinary maternity leave.

“The expansion of the maternity leave period shall not in any way diminish the existing maternity benefits granted by the employer. It shall not affect the female employee’s security of tenure”, Cayetano stressed.

According to the proposed bill, employees from the private sector availing of the maternity leave period and benefits must receive not less than two-thirds of their regular monthly wages.

“Employers from the private sector shall pay the salary differential between the actual cash benefits received from the SSS by the covered employees and their average weekly or regular wages, for the entire duration of the ordinary maternity leave,” the bill said.

The bill applies to female employees working in the government and the private sector.

Source: Senator Pia Cayetano
Photo: Phil Star