Senator Nancy Binay has filed two bills increasing the maternity leave from 60 to 120 days to ensure that pregnant women and their unborn children will be protected.

Binay said extending maternity leave to 120 days will ensure that pregnant women, whether in government service or working in the private sector, will have ample time for check-ups. Let us not put the health of women and their unborn children at risk.

She, however, said the extended maternity leave will be granted only under certain conditions to employees both in the government and private sectors.

Under Senate Bill 2083 or “An Act Providing Maternity Leave Benefits to Women in the Government Service”, pregnant women will be paid daily maternity benefit equivalent to 100 percent of their salary credit for 120 days.

This is provided that the employees paid at least three monthly contributions to the Government Service Insurance System in the 12-month period preceding childbirth, abortion or miscarriage, she said.

The bill also said employees should notify the head of their office of the pregnancy and the probable date of childbirth.

The proposed measure also provides that maternity benefits will be paid only for the first four deliveries or miscarriage.

Similar conditions will also be applied for pregnant women working in the private sector under separate Senate Bill 2084 or An Act Further Increasing the Maternity Leave Benefits of Women in private sector.*PNA

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