Solon pushes for public school teachers’ sick leave benefits

MANILA, Philippines—Assistant House Minority Leader France Castro on Wednesday renewed her call for sick leave benefits for public school teachers and urged the Congress to quickly take action on House Bill 5349.

Castro’s House Bill 5349 is entitled An Act Providing Sick Leave Benefits of Thirty Days per year for Public School Teachers. Currently, public school teachers are not afforded sick leave benefits, the lawmaker said.

“Public school teachers at present are not given sick leave benefits because current rules and regulations do not afford them this leave privilege,” said Castro. “It is high time that amid the COVID-19 pandemic, we heed the calls of public school teachers and amend the existing laws to provide teachers protection against health complications.”

“With the current laws, rules and regulations, it is as if public school teachers can choose to only get sick during the summer breaks and are expected to simply ‘bear it’ during the school year. Moreover, teachers suffer deductions in their salaries if they choose to absent themselves from class.”

Castro said that teachers are also worried about their own safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

She also said that the Department of Education has yet to implement clear and comprehensive guidelines and safety measures that will be placed once the new school year opens.

“Providing public school teachers sick leave benefits is a step towards protecting public school teachers in this time of a health crisis,” said Castro. “We urge the House Leadership to urgently hear and pass the bill providing sick leave benefits for public school teachers.”

“The passage of this bill is a step towards protecting our teachers especially during this time of a pandemic.”