MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment on May 1, Labor Day, signed the implementing rules and regulations, or IRR, of the Expanded Maternity Leave Law.
Aside from Labor Secretary Silvesre Bello III, Civil Service Commission chairperson Alicia dela Rosa Bala and Social Security System Aurora Ignacio also signed the IRR.
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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.
In a press conference in March, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said President Rodrigo 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."
Meanwhile, more than half of Philippine companies expect the Expanded Maternity Leave Law to affect their decision in hiring women, a survey of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines showed. — Ian Nicolas Cigaral with a report from ONE News PH