P&G Philippines grants 8 weeks paid paternity leave to new fathers

Procter & Gamble (P&G) Philippines is now offering over eight weeks of paid paternity leave for new fathers in their company.

In a statement, P&G said its recently launched "Share the Care" policy allows new fathers to share caregiving responsibilities for their biological or adopted children new to the family beyond the standard seven days leave mandated by Philippine law.

The policy applies to all employees regardless of "gender or marital status," P&G added.

Aside from having a stronger bond with their children, the company said that paternity leaves allow mothers to return to work more easily, which will result to female employment increasing and the earning gap lowering.

"When all parents have access to paid leave, it’s healthy for children and also builds equality in the workplace," said the company, which is behind brans such as Olay, Whisper, Tide and many more.

P&G Philippines General Manager Raffy Fajardo said, "We want to lead the change in perception around parental roles, such as the outdated stereotype that women should be the sole, full-time caregiver in the early stages of a child’s life.  We believe that caring for home and family has no gender."

According to a National Economic and Development Authority report in 2019, women's declining labor participation rate in the country can be addressed by extending their partners’ paternity leave.

The study showed that marriage and childbearing have major effects on the employment rate of women because of patriarchal family structures.

Back in February 2019, the expanded maternity leave law was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte, allowing women to get 105 days instead of the previous 60.

However, the Paternity Leave Act of 1996 provides only seven-day leaves for fathers in the country. —Kaela Malig/JCB, GMA News