Panelo: Expanded Maternity Leave Law beneficial to Pinoy families

MANILA, Philippines — The signing of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the law providing working mothers with additional leave benefits would be beneficial to Filipino families, Malacañang said yesterday.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the IRR of the Expanded Maternity Leave Law would promote the health of working mothers and would give them more time to be with their families.

“That means for you ladies, it will add more benefits to your present benefits. Imagine 105 days, that means you will have more time with your family, quality time,” Panelo said at a press briefing.

“That means also your health will be protected, because you will not be forced to work immediately after giving birth... It will be good for the families,” he added.

The IRR of the Expanded Maternity Leave Law was signed on Wednesday by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Civil Service Commission chair Alicia dela Rosa-Bala and Social Security System (SSS) president and chief executive officer Aurora Ignacio. The signing coincided with the celebration of Labor Day.

The law extends the 60-day paid leave for those who underwent normal delivery and the 78-day paid leave for those recovering from cesarean delivery to 105 days.

Working mothers also have an option to avail themselves of 30 additional days of unpaid leave. Female solo parents are granted additional 15 days of paid maternity leave.

The measure was ratified by both chambers of Congress in November and was signed into law by President Duterte in February.

A recent poll conducted among members of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines suggested that the law was seen to be costly, especially with regard to the payment of the salary differential and the labor productivity lost from the increased number of non-working days.

Most of the respondents, however, said the new law would not affect their decision to hire women.

Full benefits

Meanwhile, all working mothers who gave birth on March 11 or after are now entitled to the full benefits of the Expanded Maternity Leave Law, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said yesterday.

Hontiveros, principal sponsor and author of the law at the Senate, made the announcement a day after the executive branch signed and released the IRR of the said measure.

This was also confirmed by SSS Benefits Administration Division vice president Normita Doctor in a media interview.

“I have wonderful news for all working mothers. All those who gave birth on March 11 and after can now avail of the full benefits of the law. I urge my fellow women to coordinate with our labor department, women advocates and labor groups to get all the necessary information and seek assistance in how to access the law’s benefits,” Hontiveros said.

Aside from working women, Hontiveros said full-time mothers can also avail themselves of the law through voluntary SSS contributions.

“This law is not only confined to the offices and factories, but also covers the many homes where women do reproductive labor. By including them, the law clearly recognizes the productive and reproductive work of women,” the senator said. –  With Cecille Suerte Felipe