A female legislator on Monday urged the Social Security System and companies to stop delaying the implementation of the 105 days Expanded Maternity Leave Law.
Rep. Arlene Brosas made the call in the wake of reports that some companies are still sticking to the old 60 days maternity leave period while the SSS said on Twitter that they are “awaiting proper guidelines to be released by our management” even if the implementing rules have already been signed.
“The 105 days paid maternity leave is our fitting recognition of the valuable role and contribution of Filipino mothers to the economy. Let mothers receive what is already due to them," said Brosas.
She said the law has been passed for more than a decade, and the IRR is already out. SSS and companies should stop being a Mother’s Day grinch,” added Brosas.
Brosas said any covered female whose date of delivery falls on March 11 onwards should be able to avail the 105 days EML benefits, even if the leave has been filed prior.
“They can apply for extension of the maternity leave equivalent to the remainder days from the total 105 days,” she said.
For her part, Rep. Emmi de Jesus said Filipino women are holding the economy together amid the government's failure to introduce strategic solutions to agricultural and industrial decline, and lack of creation of decent jobs.
“Latest economic indicators show that if not for the hard work of Filipino women, especially in the informal economy, the Philippine economy would be in a much troubled state. Mothers are bearing the brunt of nonstop price hikes, inefficient privatized utilities and faltering real incomes of families,” De Jesus said.