Arroyos seek amendment to paternity leave law

Manila, Philippines -  Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has proposed that married male employees should be entitled to paternity leave beyond the current limit of four deliveries and in all succeeding deliveries of their spouses.

The bill, co-authored by her son, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Arroyo, amends Republic Act 8187, otherwise known as The Paternity Leave Act of 1996.

House Bill 6123 seeks to amend Section 2 of RA 8187 by allowing married male employees to file for paternity leave beyond the first four deliveries of his wife.

Section 2 of bill states: “Notwithstanding any law, rules and regulations to the contrary, every married male employee in the private and public sectors shall be entitled to a paternity leave of seven days with full pay for the delivery of the legitimate spouse with whom he is cohabiting. The male employee for paternity leave shall notify his employer of the pregnancy of his legitimate spouse and the expected date of such delivery.”

She said the role of the husband in giving much-needed support, care and assistance to the wife has never been more crucial and important as when his wife gives birth to their child as well as during her period of recovery and in the nursing of the newly-born baby.

“It was in recognition of the role of the husband in giving assistance and helping take care of the baby that Congress saw the need in enacting RA 8187,” Arroyo said.

But despite the genuine intent of the law, Arroyo said, it is quite limited, since the granting of paternity leave is only up to the first four deliveries of the wife.

The younger Arroyo said the passage of the bill will put the husband in a better position to give support to his wife and give the husband more time to take care of the other children in his wife’s absence.