It’s a good year for expecting mothers, because the Senate has approved a bill aiming to increase maternity leave from 60 to 100 days. The next step is for it to get signed into law.
Under Philippine law, mothers only get 60 days of paid leave after giving birth, 38 days less than the minimum number required by the International Labor Organization.
Senate Bill No. 2982, or the or the Expanded Maternity Leave Law, was sponsored by Sen. Pia Cayetano, who is also the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality. The bill was approved with a vote of 19-0.
If it is signed, women working in the public and private sector will get 100 days paid, regardless of delivery. They can also opt to get an additional 30 days off, but this will be unpaid.
According to Cayetano:
[The bill] aims to provide mothers with ample transition time to regain health and overall wellness as well as to assume their maternal roles before resuming full-time work.
It would also give mothers sufficient financial support while on maternity leave.
Through policies like this, we aim to institutionalize standards that promote the rights of working women and protect them from discrimination based on maternity.
What else can we do to improve the welfare of mothers? Share your ideas below!
