Thursday, August 12, 2004 CSC gives solo parents in gov’t. leave privileges
State workers who have to raise their children or wards alone and who find difficulty in performing parental obligations such as attending school meetings will soon find relief in the new rules issued by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) which directly benefits solo parents in government service.
The new policies are anchored on Republic Act 8972 otherwise known as the Solo Parents’ Welfare Act of 2000. CSC Resolution 40284 grants solo parents a seven-day leave privilege in addition to existing leave privileges, subject to certain conditions.
The Commission drew up the guidelines to provide uniform interpretation and implementation of the rules on the grant of parental leave provided under RA 8972.
Individuals who fall under any of the following categories are considered solo parent and are entitled to a seven-day parental leave privilege: a woman who gives birth as a result of rape and other crimes against chastity even without a final conviction of the offender, provided that the mother keeps and raises the child; and parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of parenthood due to death, detention, physical or mental incapacity of spouse as certified by a medical practitioner, legal separation, annulment of marriage or abandonment of spouse for at least one year.
Also classified as a solo parent is an unmarried person who has preferred to keep and rear children instead of having another to care for them or give them up to a welfare institution.
The rules provide, however, that the solo parent who applies for the leave privilege should secure a solo parent identification card from the city/municipal social welfare development office and submit an application form (CSC Form 6) duly supported with certified true copies of the solo parent ID and birth certificate of the child.
(August 12, 2004 issue) Write letter to the editor.Click here. Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here.
