IRR for expanded maternity leave law may be released on May 1 —SSS

The implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the expanded maternity leave law may be released on May 1, according to the Social Security System (SSS) on Tuesday.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, SSS media affairs department acting head May Rose Francisco said various agencies such as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) are working with SSS in creating the IRR.

"Sa aming pagkakaalam, ang target release nito ay sa May 1 kasi po hindi lang po SSS ang gumagawa ng IRR. In fact ang lead po dito ay DOLE. Ang DOLE, ang Civil Service at SSS nagmi-meet po 'yan para mabuo po 'yung IRR," Francisco said.

Earlier reports said the new law would shorten the SSS' fund life to until 2044 instead of 2045 as earlier estimated.

Due to this, an additional 0.05-percent increase in contributions may be necessary.

In February, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the law which grants additional maternity leave benefits to all female workers regardless of her civil status or legitimacy of her child.

From 60 days, working women will now have 105 days of maternity leave with full pay and the option to extend for another 30 days without pay while solo mothers will get 15 days of additional leave. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News