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| ECOP President Edgardo G. Lacson: Clarify maternity benefits -- BW File Photo |
“ECOP fully supports the objective of the bill raising the maternity benefits for women. There is, however, a need to clarify some ambiguities in the bill, if it is raising monetary benefit or number of maternity leave days, or both. Until such clarification is made, ECOP reserves the right to submit its official position on the bill,” Edgardo G. Lacson, ECOP president, said in a text message.
Three weeks ago, the group was unable to attend a hearing held by the Senate committee on women, family relations and gender equality, which discussed maternity leave benefits provided under Senate bill Numbers 288, 2083 and 2084. Senate Bills 2661 and 2710 also aim to prolong the maternity leave benefits of female employees, married or unmarried, in the government and private sectors.
Maternity leave for normal birth is only 60 days and 78 days for caesarean birth.
In a document submitted by ECOP, the group enumerated the “ambiguities” it found in the bills.
The group also refused to issue comments until they are clarified.
“Until the ambiguity is resolved, ECOP cannot offer any position,” the document read.
For its part, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) expressed full support for the proposed law. According to TUCP Spokesperson Alan A. Tanjusay, employers must not deprive nursing women their due compensation. -- Jauhn Etienne Villaruel / BusinessWorld
