Bill seeks weeklong leave for employees with ailing kin
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines— Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has filed a bill granting eligible employees a weeklong leave every year to allow them to care for family members who have serious health conditions.
In filing Senate Bill 402 known as “An act granting family leave to eligible employees,” Santiago said, “It is important for the development of the family unit that its members should be able to participate in the rearing and taking care of members who have serious health conditions.”
“However, as the present economic crisis continue to inflate the prices of our basic commodities, family members are compelled to work and leave their responsibility of family caretaking to other people,” she said.
Santiago then pushed for the passage of her bill that would entitle every eligible employee “to take reasonable leave that will allow him or her to care for his or her spouse, ascendant, or descendant who has serious health condition without fear of losing his or her job.”
The bill, she said, will also promote both the stability and economic security of the family as well as the national interest in preserving family integrity.
Under the proposed measure, an eligible employee will be entitled to “seven days of leave during any 12 month period in order to care for the spouse, descendant, or ascendant of the employee, if such spouse, ascendant, or descendant has a serious health condition.”
“The employee shall provide his or her employer a medical certification from the patient’s attending doctor attesting to such serious health condition,” it said.
A fine not more than P20,000 or an imprisonment of not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days awaits any person, corporation, trust, firm, partnership, association or entity found violating the proposed bill.
