Senate Bill Pushes for 150 Days Maternity Leave

With the hope to par the country’s maternity law with the international standards, ‘Expanded Maternity Leave Law of 2016’ was filed at the Senate.

Senate Bill No. 205 or otherwise known as the ‘Expanded Maternity Leave Law of 2016’ seeks to advance a longer maternity leave and expanse the benefits of maternal workers.

According to Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros, the filer of the said bill, the proposed bill aims to be ‘responsive to the everyday realities of working women.’

It hopes to provide maternal workers in the public and private workers, married or not, 120 days of maternity leave, and an additional 30 days for single mothers.

Currently, the Philippines maternity leave law states that women workers may take a maternity leave of 60 days pay, 78 days pay for women who undergo caesarian deliveries. Whereas, the International Labor Organization (ILO) mandates a standard minimum set of 98 days for maternity leave.

“The government must carry a new and progressive perspective on how it responds to women workers’ pre and post-natal health care needs,” said Hontiveros in her statement.(PIA/SarahGalvez)