CJ uses self as example of woman in work force

In a moving speech that centered on her being a mother and the country’s highest magistrate, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno called on Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) delegates to bat for flexibility in labor laws and business models to accommodate more women in the business sector.

Sereno was the keynote speaker at the Women’s Luncheon of the Apec Business Advisory Council (Abac) on Saturday, where she emphasized the roles women play in their families which are overlooked in the workforce.

Abac, composed of business leaders of Apec member economies, offers recommendations, expertise and perspective for the leaders of the economies.

“I strongly feel, yes, more flexibilities must be built in the way we do our economic models,” Sereno said, citing the Philippine labor laws as an example.

“The Philippine labor laws for example are modeled on a very rigid manufacturing type hierarchical system of management,” she said.

Asked to elaborate after the forum, Sereno said labor laws must allow women to have a flexible working arrangement.

“I think that we should insert provisions that allow for unorthodox working hours provided that the company’s general goals are met. There should be some balancing or tradeoffs there,” Sereno said in an interview.

She noted that many women were forced to drop out of the work force “simply because they don’t have the continuous career stream.”

“I think that is wrong, because we are losing the ability to make use of their talents,” she said.

Sereno turned personal in her speech, recounting her experiences raising two children while beginning her law practice.

“I opted out of the law firm life because I gave birth in my second year at the law office. Four months later I became pregnant again,” she said.

Sereno left the law firm and moved to the academe, escaping the consequence of being in a profession that made her come home to her kids past midnight every day.

It became clear to her then that she had to prioritize her children.

Luckily, she said, she got consultancy jobs one after the other.

“Now, those people who told me I will forever regret it, they cannot say that anymore. Because I am the Chief Justice,” Sereno said, drawing applause.

Sereno gave this piece of advice to women business leaders: “Women must be comfortable with themselves. You must stop pretending to be more masculine.”