Press Release
March 7, 2017

Triumph for the Working Filipina
NANCY LAUDS PASSAGE OF EXPANDED MATERNITY LEAVES BILL ON THIRD READING

Senator Nancy Binay on Monday lauded the passage on third and final reading of a measure that increases maternity leaves from the existing 60 days to 120 days.

"I am glad that this measure has received so much support from my colleagues in the Senate. This is truly a victory for the working Filipina," said Binay, a co-author of the measure. The lady senator also filed similar bills during the 16th Congress.

"Ang pag-apruba sa Senate Bill No. 1305 ngayong Buwan ng Kababaihan ay isang napakahalagang hakbang tungo sa pangangalaga at pagpapahalaga sa kanilang papel bilang mga ina," she added.

The Senate voted 22-0 to approve SB 1305 which gives all covered female workers in both the public and private sectors 120 days of paid maternity leaves, regardless of civil status or legitimacy of the child. The bill also gives them an option to extend for another 30 days of leave, but without pay.

A qualified solo parent under RA 8972, or the Solo Parents' Welfare Act, meanwhile, will be given 150 days of maternity leaves with pay under the measure.

A female worker, under the proposed, can also allocate up to 30 days of her maternity leave to the child's father, whether they are married or not. In the abscence, death or incapacitation of the father, the 30 days may be allocated to an alternate caregiver who may be a relative within the fourth degree of consanguinity or the current partner of the female worker sharing the same household.

"Many working mothers choose to work until the last three or two weeks before giving birth just so they can maximize their leave benefits. And even then, they still do not have enough time to take care and fully bond with their babies," Binay lamented.

"Sa pagpasa ng SB 1305 sa Senado, tayo po ay nalalapit sa pagsunod sa standard ng International Labor Organization (ILO) sa maternity leaves na 98 na araw. Sana po ay patuloy tayong magtulungan upang mabigyan ng sapat na benepisyo ang mga kababaihang nagsisikap upang balansehin ang kanilang papel sa tahanan at trabaho," she added.

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