Bicam panel extends paid maternity leave to 105 days

File Photo
File Photo

THE Bicameral Conference Committee tasked to reconcile the two versions of the extended maternity leave bill has approved a 105-day paid maternity leave for private and public sector employees.

Solo parents will get an additional 15 days, or a total of 120 paid maternity leave credits.

The conference was concluded on Monday, October 1, after the Senate and the House of Representatives agreed to reconcile significant differences between House Bill 4113 and Senate Bill 1305.

The version of the House of Representatives provides for a 100-day maternity leave while the version of the Senate provides for a 120-day maternity leave.

During Monday’s committee hearing, both chambers of the Congress agreed on a 105-day maternity leave, seven days of which are transferrable to fathers.

The bicameral conference committee’s version of the bill also allows a 30-day extension of maternity leave without pay.

The law applies to all instances of pregnancy, removing the four pregnancy cap proposed in the House of Representatives’s version.

The maternity leave bill will now be elevated to the Senate and House of Representatives for ratification.

Gabriela Women’s Party-list, among the proponents of the bill, hailed the measure’s approval.

“At a time when women workers are increasingly crushed by the pressure of making ends meet amid rising prices, a longer paid maternity period is one of the few positive things that the government can enact. Pagkilala ito sa produktibong papel ng kababaihan sa ating ekonomiya," Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus said in a statement.

(This is in recognition of the productive role of women in our economy.)

Gabriela also lauded the improved provision in the bicameral version on penalties of at least P20,000 for the non-conferment of the expanded maternity leave to employees, from the minimum penalty of P5,000 in the Senate’s version of the bill.

Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy, chair of the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality, earlier said Congress leaders were eyeing the ratification of the bill before the congressional break this October. (SunStar Philippines)

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