Wanted: Mommy Time

In Photo: Filipino Mothers with their newborn babies | Public Radio International

          The weight of motherhood should be greatly recognized by the law.

Being a mother is one of the greatest and most fulfilling roles every woman can have. Women do not just aspire to be a good mother, but also to be a successful career woman.   Mothers should be granted ample time to temporarily leave their jobs to give way to the very point of their life: to give birth.

       But in a society where women’s role is still perceived as lower than men, where their rights and sufferings are not recognized enough, where there are prejudice and discrimination in the capitalist system of the workplace.

Will the light of our home still continue to shine over their loving children?

Maternity leave is the period of absence granted to the female employees before and after the birth of their child. This kind of leave is special, for it’s not only a right for women, but also for infants. It gives the mother the time to heal from painful pregnancy and delivery, and time to take care of the newborn child.           

         In the Philippines, the current length of maternity leave is 60 days for normal delivery, and 78 days for caesarian.          

         According to Republic Act (RA) 7322 Section 14-A or “The Maternity Leave Benefit,” a female employee, no matter what the circumstances of childbirth is, whether it be miscarriage or abortion, shall be granted a 60-day maternity leave with 100 percent of her usual basic salary.         

         Still, according to the International Labor Organization (ILO), the Philippines has the lowest number of paid maternity leave in Southeast Asia. With our basic 60-days maternity leave, we are definitely lower than the usual and prescribed 98-day recommendation.            

         Hence, the question that begs to be discussed: “Is our current maternity leave enough for Filipina mothers?

In Photo: Miles David, case subject # 1

          Miles David, 26, a mother of one and a call center agent, shared her painful and uncomfortable experience while working during her pregnancy. She stated that the 60-day maternity leave was not enough for her due to sensitive pregnancy. In fact, she even experienced bleeding during work. She said that she almost didn’t have time to take care of her newborn despite the fact that the baby was too invulnerable and fragile.          

     She said that she only availed the maternity leave two weeks before her delivery date so that she would have to use her 60 days leave more efficiently. Yet, that still wasn’t enough.           

       Meanwhile, an Indonesian woman, named Tri Utami Putri, 27, currently pregnant, shared her experience regarding the maternity leave in her country. She stated that in Indonesia, the length of their maternity leave is 90 days, plus with Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) benefits and complete salary on the first month of the leave.

In Photo: Tri Utami Putri, case subject #2

     Putri says that the duration of their leave is already enough for her to get ready for delivery then heal from it. She also added that as far as she knows, there are no companies in Indonesia that does not hire women or demotes them due to the absences in maternity leave.

        Recently in the Philippines, the Senate Bill No. 1305, also known as “The Expanded Maternity Leave Bill,” which amended the Republic Act 7322 that was proposed by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV last year. This act seeks to expand the duration of maternity leave from 60 days to 105 days (120 days for caesarian delivery) with pay to all mothers. This bill will also add 15 more days for the single mothers, and seven days of leave for fathers.         

       David expressed in an interview that her agreement regarding the said bill. She said that it would make many pregnant women’s life easier, especially in a state of sensitive pregnancy.            

             Like her, many Filipinas are suffering from continuous work while on the ripe stage of their pregnancy due to the current maternity leave. There are also many women who were forced to leave their jobs to take care of their babies and themselves, thus, risking their financial stability.

           When a mother’s health is at risk by immediately going back to work before being completely healed, when a mother barely has time to be with her newborn child, when a mother risks her and the unborn baby’s health by sacrificing it for her job…

Will she still be the light to her child?

Version of Maternity Leave for Senator Trillanes in 2017

In Photo: Senator Antonio Trillanes IV | abogado.com

        Last year, Sen. Trillanes proposed to amend RA 7322 which sought to extend the current duration of Maternity leave in the Philippines from two (2) months to six (6) months. That also includes at least two weeks of leave prior to the due of birth and an option to add thirty (30) days unpaid leave. This is because of the report by United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in 2008 which states that thirty-two (32) per one thousand live births of Filipino children died under the age of five (5). The report suggested that longer time of breastfeeding will help for providing enough nutrients  for the newborn. 

The Expanded Maternity Leave Act of 2018 for Sen. Hontiveros

         Sen. Risa Hontiveros endorsed the Expanded Maternity Leave Act that mandates the one hundred five (105) days of leave for pregnant women and gave additional 15 paid days for single mothers. This also includes the 14 days of Paternal leave. 

In Photo: #PinkOctober Run | reelrunning.com

            In addition to this, the Gabriela Party List supports the said bill, Emmi De Jesus, representative of the said party list said in an interview from Manila Bulletin,             “This is a very positive start of our #PinkOctober campaign that seeks to highlight women’s health. This is proof of women’s resounding call for lawmakers to increase the current 60-day maternity leave period for normal delivery, which is way below the international minimum standard of 98 days.”

Benefits of The Expanded Maternity Leave Act of 2018 (September version)

           In the bicameral meeting, Rep. De Jesus stated that the added maternity benefits for female employees in the private sector should be granted by the Social Security System (SSS) without increasing the workers’ contributions by an estimated 0.3 or 0.4 percent. The SSS cannot use the expanded maternity leave as an excuse to cut the take-home pay of contributors. 
           Additionally, the paid maternity leave will increase from 60 days to 105 days. However, in the senate version of the bill, the paid maternity leave is increased into 120 days, while in the House of Representatives, it is offered to extend into 100 days. Importantly, this leave will now apply to all for instances of pregnancy, miscarriage, stillborn, or abortion, regardless of marital status. 

         The bill also includes the transferable leave credits that allows mothers to transfer seven days of their leave to new fathers or fellow caregivers. Unlike the current Republic Act No. 8187 or the Paternity Leave Act of 1996, this new bill seeks to allow transferable leave credits to fathers whether they are married or not. 

            Another one is the option for 30-day extension leave. Mothers will be allowed to avail another 30 days addition to their 100 or 120 days maternity leave, but without pay. This extension does not give the employers and companies the excuse to demote their female employee who avails of the said extension. It shall give them a security of tenure.

              Single mothers will also be granted additional 15 days paid maternity leave.

            The Expanded Maternity Leave's final version requires a fine of at least Php 20,000 on employers who refuse to comply once it becomes a law. It's an essential change from the Senate's previous proposal of at least Php 5,000.

The other side of the story

In Photo: Claudine Belandres, case subject # 3

      Senior Human Resources Generalist Claudine Belandres shared their company policies and processes regarding maternity leave. 

      In an interview, she stated that her company follows the standards of SSS when it comes to the length of maternity leave, which is 60 days for normal delivery and 78 days for caesarian. Their paternity leave standard are seven days, and can include the remaining unclaimed working leaves.

       They require their female employees to notify the management about the leave, six weeks before conception, so they can immediately notify the SSS about it. The reason for this is that whatever the outcome of the pregnancy, they will still be able to get their SSS claims.

           The only challenge for them is that there are some employees that decide to leave their jobs after their maternity leave. 

         Despite this, according to Ms. Belandres, there are no prejudices and discrimination towards female applicants when hiring. 

       All the maternity leave days in their company are fully paid too. Most of all, their company, which is a private sector, does not demote female employees due to availing their maternity leave. 

What's it like in nearby countries?

       We interviewed an Indonesian mother, Tri Utami Putri, who is eight (8) months pregnant and currently taking her maternity leave. In their country, she mentioned that their government enforces a law that the duration of the maternity leave of a mother is ninety (90) days. The first month will be paid. She emphasized that their maternity leave is enough for her to recover from her birth wounds and has an ample time to spend with her family. She also stated that they have twenty (20) days of paternity leave and it will be possible to be extended depending on the regulation of the father's employer.

        "Some compan(ies) do have regulation(s) to forbid their women employee to get married for some year and that is all there in the interview process when they are hiring their employee. And they have to agree if they want to be hired by that company." She added.

           We also talked to an OFW, Glenda Obispo (28 years old) from Taiwan and asked about the regulation of their Maternity Leave in that country. She said that the Taiwanese  government gives a pregnant mother six (6) months of maternity which can extend until the child is already 3 years old. However, no pay will be given after those six (6) months. Instead, the mother will be provided an allowance by the government. 

         By looking at the aforementioned examples it can be concluded that our current maternity leave is unfair and inconsiderate. 

Patience please!

No doubt that after the congress and senate ratified the EML, it will give a lot of Filipina mothers hope for spending more time to be with their newborn and for them to have enough time to heal from their delivery.
The signature of President Rodrigo Duterte is the only thing that all women are waiting.


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