From 60 to 105 days: Duterte signs into law expanded maternity leave
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte signed the expanded maternity leave bill into law, Malacañang said Thursday.
The law extends paid maternity leave to 105 days from the current 60, with an option to extend for 30 days without pay. Under the law, employees who are solo parents should also be granted an additional 15 days of paid maternity leave.
Good news!
— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) February 21, 2019
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea confirms Pres. Duterte has signed expanded maternity leave bill into law. | @alexisbromero pic.twitter.com/4XjsD35ENC
The bill was ratified by both the House of Representatives and Senate during the bicameral conference in October.
READ: Bicam approves 105 days paid maternity leave
In a press conference on Thursday, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that Duterte's signing of the law may be perceived to "lessen profits" for employers. But he said that company owners have "big profits" and that expanded benefits should be the "social service."
Duterte signed over 20 bills into law over the past week.
On Wednesday evening, he signed the Universal Healthcare Act, which would automatically enroll all Filipinos in the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. system.
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