Saturday, May 03, 2008 Dad objects to extended maternity leave period
DAVAO City Councilor Edgar Ibuyan expressed doubts on the proposed law on the extension of maternity leave period of working mothers.
Ibuyan, chair of the Committee on Labor and Employment opportunities, said this might have an adverse effect on the employment opportunities of married women.
"Ang mga employees labi na mga gamay na negosyo lang, pwede nga di nalang sila mukuha ug workers na minyo kay kung ma-extend ang leave ug 2 months, mag-hire noud sila ug contractual so doble na iang bayad (The employers especially those of small-scale will instead be hiring workers who are not married if the leave is extended. If not, they will need to hire substitutes, thus the they will be paying double)," Ibuyan said.
The councilor added that the extension of maternity leave should be based upon the nature of livelihood.
"Naa may uban nga gaan ra kaayo ang trabaho, naa pud uban nga bug-at so needed gyud ang taas na rest (There are people who carry lighter work load, while others have hectic schedules, so longer rest is needed," Ibuyan said.
He added that in consultation meetings with some local women groups, there are those who said that the current two-month leave allowed for those who had normal delivery is enough.
"Kuntento na man daw sila pero magpadayun gihapon ta ug konsulta arun makita naato and local scenario. Didto nato mahibaw-an kung maayo ang mahimong epekto ani sa mothers ug sa mga kumpanya pud (They said they are contended, but we should still continue the consultation to see it closely. We will see it there if the effects to the mothers and the company itself are good or not)," Ibuyan said.
It was the Gabriela Women's Party that filed the bill extending the allowed maternity leave from the current period of 60 days for normal deliveries and 78 days for caesarean deliveries to as much as 120 days, as recommended by the International Labor Organization Convention 183 on Maternity Protection.
