‘Expanded maternity leave won’t stifle women’s jobs’

MANILA, Philippines — An opposition lawmaker yesterday expressed belief that the newly approved Expanded Maternity Leave Law will not affect the chances of women being hired even if they will be entitled to a 105-day maternity leave when they get pregnant.

“We do not see the extended maternity benefit discouraging the employment of women. Men and women will continue to get hired as long as they have the skills, knowledge and personal attributes needed by employers,” Makati City Rep. Luis Campos Jr. said.

“The truth is, we already have several firms affording superior maternity leave benefits to women,” the deputy minority leader added, citing multinational business process outsourcing firm Accenture Inc.’s 50,000 Filipino employees.

“Accenture here provides 120 days of paid maternity leave to its female staff,” Campos said of the company, which is one of the country’s largest employers.

“Longer maternity leave won’t lessen the hiring of women,” he stressed.

There is nothing unusual about the new law, according to the lawmaker.

“It merely aligns our maternity leave benefit with the global standard that entered into force 16 years ago,” he said as he allayed fears of some that the new law would drive companies to hire more men than women.

International Labor Organization Convention 183 sets the maternity leave benefit standard at 14 weeks.

Under Republic Act 11210 which takes effect on March 7, “Workers availing themselves of the maternity leave period and benefits must receive their full pay.”