House OKs extended paid maternity leave to 100 days

The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on third and final reading a measure seeking to extend paid maternity leave to 100 days for women working in government and the private sector.

Voting 191-0, the chamber approved House Bill 4113, which also provides an option to extend maternity leave by another 30 days without pay.

The provisions of the bill do not discriminate regarding civil status and whether it is a case of miscarriage, or abortion after termination, as well as women workers in the informal economy, those with pending administrative case and those who are non-members of the Social Security System (SSS).

The measure emphasizes that female workers cannot be demoted in employment or terminated on the basis of maternity leave and assures them of security of tenure.

SSS members who paid at least three monthly contributions in the 12 months before the semester of childbirth or miscarriage will be paid their maternity benefit.

This will be computed based on the average monthly salary credit for 100 days, regardless if the delivery was normal or caesarian but subject to conditions provided in the bill.

At the same time, women in the private sector taking maternity leave and its accompanying benefits must receive not less than two-thirds of their regular monthly wage.

Employers are responsible for the salary differential between the actual cash benefits received from the SSS and their average weekly or regular wages for the duration of the ordinary maternity leave. —VDS, GMA News