Let’s start your Tuesday with some good news. The Senate approved the Expanded Maternity Leave Law of 2017. This grants mothers 120 days leave with pay. This can be further extended to 30 days with pay. On the other hand, single mothers are granted 150 days maternity leave. This applies to both government and private sector employees.
Fathers may now file 30 days paternity leave, the law raised this number from the usual seven-day leave with pay. Within the 120 days of maternity leave, a mother can also opt to transfer 30 of the said days to an alternate caregiver from spouse, common law partner, or even a relative.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros is the primary author of the law. Upon the approval, she quickly shared it on social media.
Co-authors of the bill are Sen. Sonny Angara, Sen. Manny Pacquiao, Sen. Francis Pangilinan, Sen. Loren Legarda, Sen. Nancy Binay, and Sen. Antonio Trillanes.
Congratulations to the Senate for doing something right!
Photo courtesy of Iya Villania’s Instagram account
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