aldric de ocampo,
House Bill 4113 or the 100-Day Maternity Leave Law was recently approved by the House of Representatives on its second reading.
The bill provides for 100 days paid maternity leave for female workers, which may be extended for a further unpaid 30 days. It also states that the availment of the maternity leave cannot be used as the basis for the employee’s demotion or termination of work.
The bill will be further debated by a bicameral committee with members from both the Senate and the House of Representatives due to different provisions in the Senate version of the bill, Senate Bill 1305.
SB 1305 provides for 120 days paid maternity leave, which can be extended by a further unpaid 30 days. It will also give fathers 30 days of leave, as opposed to the current 7 days maximum.
This work in progress is a successful development, not just for women’s rights, but, in the case of the Senate version, gender equality as well.
The provisions show that it recognises the hardships women go through not just during, but also in the period surrounding childbirth. Besides that, giving fathers paternity leave means that the state also recognises that they also have child-rearing duties.
Aside from tackling social issues, the bill also aids families personally, giving them time to recover, bond with each other, and generally help with their health and wellbeing.
In fact, a New America report from 2017 said, ‘a growing body of research is finding that, on the whole, job-protected paid family leaves of adequate duration and wage replacement lead to more income and gender equality, significant reductions in infant, maternal and even paternal mortality, improved physical and mental health for children and parents, greater family stability and economic security, business productivity, and economic growth.’
Therein lies the catch however: ‘adequate duration and wage replacement’, according to the report.
When the bicameral committee further amends the bill, it must take into account scientific research and economic data to ensure that the bill does not run counter to its goal or that it causes more harm than good.
It must be rigorous in its decision-making, because the consequences of a poorly thought of law could mean a wider wage gap between sexes, increased discrimination, economic harm, and decreased infant and parental health.
All in all however, this is a good step forward from the shorter maternity leaves of before. //by Craig Aquino and Aldric De Ocampo
Opinion: Happy Mother’s 100 Days!
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| Photo credit: Gail Clemente and Ulap Coquilla |
House Bill 4113 or the 100-Day Maternity Leave Law was recently approved by the House of Representatives on its second reading.
The bill provides for 100 days paid maternity leave for female workers, which may be extended for a further unpaid 30 days. It also states that the availment of the maternity leave cannot be used as the basis for the employee’s demotion or termination of work.
The bill will be further debated by a bicameral committee with members from both the Senate and the House of Representatives due to different provisions in the Senate version of the bill, Senate Bill 1305.
SB 1305 provides for 120 days paid maternity leave, which can be extended by a further unpaid 30 days. It will also give fathers 30 days of leave, as opposed to the current 7 days maximum.
This work in progress is a successful development, not just for women’s rights, but, in the case of the Senate version, gender equality as well.
The provisions show that it recognises the hardships women go through not just during, but also in the period surrounding childbirth. Besides that, giving fathers paternity leave means that the state also recognises that they also have child-rearing duties.
Aside from tackling social issues, the bill also aids families personally, giving them time to recover, bond with each other, and generally help with their health and wellbeing.
In fact, a New America report from 2017 said, ‘a growing body of research is finding that, on the whole, job-protected paid family leaves of adequate duration and wage replacement lead to more income and gender equality, significant reductions in infant, maternal and even paternal mortality, improved physical and mental health for children and parents, greater family stability and economic security, business productivity, and economic growth.’
Therein lies the catch however: ‘adequate duration and wage replacement’, according to the report.
When the bicameral committee further amends the bill, it must take into account scientific research and economic data to ensure that the bill does not run counter to its goal or that it causes more harm than good.
It must be rigorous in its decision-making, because the consequences of a poorly thought of law could mean a wider wage gap between sexes, increased discrimination, economic harm, and decreased infant and parental health.
All in all however, this is a good step forward from the shorter maternity leaves of before. //by Craig Aquino and Aldric De Ocampo
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