The leadership of the House of Representatives has backed a bill which seeks to strengthen the protection of women employees in the workplace.
Approved on second reading, House Bill 6769 seeks to expand the prohibition of discriminatory acts against women on account of sex, amending for the purpose Presidential Decree 442, otherwise known as “The Labor Code of the Philippines.”
The bill was expected to be approved on third and final reading when Congress resumes session on Aug. 28.
In filing the bill, DIWA party-list Rep. Emmeline Aglipay-Villar said discrimination on the basis of sex persists even in this present day and age.
“Discrimination takes many forms. But it is, perhaps, most pernicious and most debilitating in the workplace, where rigid company hierarchies and a lack of transparency can ensure that abuses go on unchecked,” said Aglipay-Villar, who was recently appointed as Justice Undersecretary, said.
“The role of legislation in this case is to tear away the protective veil of sexual discrimination, by making its violations visible by virtue of making the text of the law explicit with regard to which actions constitute discrimination, as well as making sure that the gravity of the punishment suits the gravity of the offense,” she added.
Under the bill, it shall be an act of discrimination against women for any employer to favor a male employee over a female employee with respect to promotion, assignment, training opportunities, study and scholarship grants solely on account of their sex.
Likewise, the measure states that “favoring 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” is an act of discrimination.
It shall be unlawful for any employer “to deny any woman employee the benefits provided for in this Chapter or to discharge any woman employee for the purpose of preventing her from enjoying any of the benefits provided under this Code”.
Furthermore, it shall also be unlawful for any employer to deny any woman the employment benefits provided under the laws by reason of her sex.
The bill provides the penalties of P50,000 to P200,000 or imprisonment of not less than three (3) months nor more than three years (3) or both fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court, in addition to other penalties as may be provided by law, upon conviction to any employer who commits any of the acts prohibited under the bill.
Aside from this, the institution of any criminal action shall not bar the aggrieved employee from filing an entirely separate and distinct action for money claims, which may include claims of damages and other affirmative reliefs. The actions authorized shall proceed independently of each other.
Any alien found guilty shall be immediately deported upon completion of service of sentence.
Other authors of the bill are Reps. Strike Revilla (2nd District, Cavite), Estrellita Suansing (1st District, Nueva Ecija), Horacio Suansing Jr. (2nd District, Sultan Kudarat), Randolph Ting (3rd District, Cagayan), Mark Go (Lone District, Baguio City), Makmod Mending Jr. (Party-list, AMIN), Vicente Veloso (3rd District, Leyte), Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. (2nd District, Camarines Sur) and Gus Tambunting (2nd District, Parañaque City).