Dole: Rules out for new maternity leave law

itMANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment issued on Wednesday the implementation rules for Republic Act No. 11210, or the 105-day expanded maternity leave law.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the new law would help better ensure the health of female workers.

Some employers have warned that the new law will make them reconsider hiring women.

Bello reiterated that employers should not make the new law an excuse for them to discriminate against women in hiring, warning that those who would break it faced fines of up to P200,000 and imprisonment of up to 12 years.

The labor chief also signed a memorandum of agreement with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for free training and certification of returning migrant workers. —Jovic Yee