House OKs bill seeking more protection for female workers

The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on third and final reading a bill which seeks to expand prohibited discriminatory acts against women.

Voting 197-0 without abstentions, the lower chamber approved House Bill No. 6760, which would amend the Labor Code of the Philippines by further strengthening several of its provisions to give more protection to women employees in the workplace.

The bill, principally authored by former Diwa party-list Rep. Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, declares as discriminatory any company action or policy that favors a male employee over a female employee with respect to dismissal of personnel or the application of any retrenchment policy of the employer solely on account of their sex.

Favoring a male employee over a female employee with respect to promotion, assignment, training opportunities, study and scholarship grants solely on account of her sex is also prohibited by the bill.

Fine or imprisonment

Under the measure, it shall be unlawful for any employer to deny any woman the employment benefits provided under the laws by reason of her sex.

In addition to other penalties as may be provided by law, the proposal imposes a fine of P50,000 to P200,000 or imprisonment of three months to three years, or both, at the discretion of the court to any employer found guilty of committing any of the prohibited acts.

The institution of any criminal action shall not bar the aggrieved employee from filing an action for money claims.

Any foreigner found guilty shall be immediately deported upon completion of service of sentence.

Penalty of officers

On the other hand, any employee or person who willfully abets or aids in the commission of the prohibited acts or who causes the commission of any such acts by another would be liable in the same manner as the employer.

For offenses committed by a corporation, trust, partnership, firm, association or entity, the penalty shall be imposed upon the guilty officer or officers.

Other authors of the bill include Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr., and Representatives Strike Revilla of Cavite, Estrellita Suansing of Nueva Ecija, Horacio Suansing Jr. of Sultan Kudarat, Randolph Ting of Cagayan, Mark Go of Baguio City, Makmod Mending Jr. and Amihilda Sangcopan of Amin party list, Vicente Veloso of Leyte, Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. of Camarines Sur, Gus Tambunting of Parañaque City, Raul del Mar of Cebu City, Ron Salo of Kabayan party list, and Virgilio Lacson of Manila Teachers party list.