Senate passes bill increasing maternity leave to 100 days

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The Philippine Senate on Monday passed on third and final reading a bill seeking to increase maternity leave in the public and private sectors to 100 days regardless of the mode of delivery.

The senators voted 19-0 to approve Senate Bill No. 2982 would change the current laws that 60 days of maternity leave for government employees and 60 to 78 days for employees in the private sector.

According to the proposed bill, employees in the private sector availing of the maternity leave period and benefits must receive not less than two-thirds of their regular monthly wages.

Data from the Social Security System (SSS) show that for the years 2012 to 2014, the availment of the maternity leave is less than two percent of the total female population of members.

Exempted from giving cash benefits are employers who are operating distressed establishments and retail/service establishments employing not more than 10 workers.

Also exempted are employers who pay their workers on commission, boundary or task basis and those engaged in the production, processing, or manufacturing of products and commodities including agro-processing, trading, and services whose total assets are not more than P3-million. (PNA)

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