Hontiveros on 100-day paid maternity leave: ‘Historic victory for women’

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday lauded as “a historic victory for women” the passage of the bill that seeks to increase to 100 days the paid maternity leave of female workers in the government and private sector by the House of Representatives.

Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, championed the counterpart measure of the House bill at the Senate that was approved in March 2017.

“After 26 years, we are finally able to upgrade this outdated policy. After 26 years, women have won this right in the workplace,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

With 191 affirmative votes, zero negative votes, and no abstentions, the lower chamber approved House Bill 4113 on third and final reading on Tuesday.

READ: House OKs 100-day maternity leave bill on final reading\

Congress’ version seeks to improve on the country’s paid maternity leave policy by adding 40 days from the current 60 days.

The Senate’s version, meanwhile, proposes an extension of up to 120 days.

Hontiveros said that an extension of the paid maternity leave will improve the health of women, their newborn and their family, noting that “enough rest will give new mothers time for recuperation and recovery from childbirth.”

“It will also improve on families’ overall well-being, with newborn infants being properly taken care of, with enough skin-to-skin contact with their mother,” she added.

With the prevailing 60-day paid maternity leave policy, Hontiveros said the country lags behind Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, and Indonesia – which all have 90 days;  Myanmar with 98 days; and Laos and Brunei with 105 days.

Singapore and Vietnam top the list of countries with the best maternity leave policies at 112 days and 180 days respectively, she added.

The proposed law will now undergo deliberations in the bicameral conference committee, which will consolidate the versions of the House and Senate, before which final version shall be signed into law by the President. /kga