Moms and moms to be, good news!
The Senate has approved the bill seeking to grant 120 days of maternity leave to expectant mothers, March 6, 2017.
According to Senator Risa Hontiveros, author of the bill, and chair of the Senate Committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality, the bill is the first landmark bill passed in third reading in the Senate for 2017.
Senator Hontiveros wrote:
In a unanimous vote from my colleagues, the Senate approved today my 120-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Bill.
This is the first landmark bill passed in third reading in the Senate for 2017.
After 25 years, isang napakagandang regalo sa lahat ng mga kababaihan ngayong Women’s Month!
#120DaysOfCare
The Senate Bill 1305, also known as, Expanded Maternity Leave Law of 2017 was passed by a vote of 22-0. With the said bill, all female workers, regardless of her civil status or legitimacy of her child, shall be granted 120 days maternity leave with pay (regardless if normal or caesarean) and an option to extend it for another 30 days without pay.
Currently, the law allows expectant mothers only 60 days for normal delivery and 90 days for caesarean.
Meanwhile, single moms will also be given a total of 150 days maternity leave with pay.
Should the Senate Bill 1305 becomes a law, violators will be fined P5,000 to P20,000 and imprisonment for at least 6 years and one day to 12 years.
Fathers, however, would also receive an extension of the usual 7-day leave to 30 days, if passed into law.
The bill was co-authored by Senators Francis Pangilinan, Nancy Binay, Loren Legarda, Antonio Trillianes, Manny Pacquiao, and Sonny Angara.
Finally, moms will have more meaningful moments with their newborn. Indeed, this is such a great gift to the moms and their children.
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