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Tuesday, May 27, 2003
Benefits for single parents not shouldered by employers
By Karen Joy Jajalla/ STC Masscom intern
THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has come up with new guidelines for single parents to easily avail themselves of benefits.
And the DSWD assured that employers would not foot the bill for these benefits.
Ben Baruc of the DSWD 7 said the Solo Parent Welfare Act offers the same benefits as those granted to married couples, but the difference is that single parents are now given more priority.
He added that the law was passed last 2000 yet, but the issuance of the guidelines was done just last month.
ID card
Single parents should first apply for an identification card to avail themselves of the benefits because the department still has to conduct a study to confirm the true status of the applicant.
The cost of benefits such as livelihood, counseling, parent effectiveness and stress debriefing will be shouldered by the different government agencies that will be joining the program such as the Department of Health, Department of Education, Department of Labor and Employment (Dole), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and National Housing Authority.
Other benefits include flexible work schedule, parental leave, medical assistance, essential health packages and seven-day leave.
The initial target of the program is solo parents working for the local government.
More importantly, Baruc assured that the program would not entail additional expenses for applicants and their employers/companies.
Questions
Despite this, Regional Governor of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Jose Ng raised questions about the program, saying he wasn’t familiar with it.
“The first thing we should know is how to define ‘single parents’ because we have to know the extent of this program—in terms of contribution and additional costs. We really have to balance everything,” he told Sun.Star.
Baruc said the DSWD would coordinate with the Dole regarding an orientation on the program for the different employers and companies within the city.
(May 27, 2003 issue)
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