Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

THIRTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 923

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The abiding principle of social justice provided in the 1987 Constitution
reserves a special concern for working women when it mandates thus: "The
State shall protect working women by providing safe and healthful working
conditions, taking into account their maternal functions, and such facilities and
opportunities that will enhance their welfare and enable them to realize their full
potential in the service of the nation”. (Sec. 14, Art. XIII). The International
Labor Organization (ILO) through the ILO Convention No. 103-urges member
countries to adopt maternity benefits “sufficient for the full and healthy
maintenance of the woman and her child in accordance with a suitable standard
of living (Art. 4[2] ILO Convention No. 103).

R.A. 7322 passed on March 30 1992, amended the maternity leave
Provisions of the Social Security System (SSS) Law. In effect, the maternity
leave benefits was increased from 45 calendar days to 60 calendar days for a
normal delivery and 78 days in the case of caesarean operation. But due to
changing times and the worsening economic conditions, these benefits are no
longer sufficient to address the demands of childbirth and the requirements of
the newly-born.

This bill seeks to increase further the maternity leave benefits from sixty
(60) calendar days to eighty-four (84) calendar days for normal delivery and one
hundred (100) calendar days, in the case of.high-risk pregnancy or caesarean
delivery, for women workers both in the government and in the private sector in
keeping with the ILO Convention No. 103 which provides for twelve (12) weeks.

In the light of the foregoing, immediate Passage of this Bill is earnestly
sought.

Representative
Fourth District of Quezon Ci

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

THIRTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 923

AN ACT

INCREASING THE MATERNITY BENEFITS OF WOMEN
WORKERS IN GOVERNMENT AND IN THE PRIVATE
SECTOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. A covered female employee who has paid at least
three (3) monthly contributions to the Social Security System, in the case
of private sector employees or the Government Service Insurance System
(GSIS), in the case of the government employees, preceding the
semester of her childbirth, abortion or miscarriage and who is currently
employed shall be paid a daily maternity benefit equivalent to one
hundred fifty percent (150%) of her present basic salary, allowances and
other benefits or cash equivalent of such benefits for eighty-four (84)
calendar days subject to the following conditions:

(a) That in case of high-risk pregnancy or caesarean delivery, the
employee shall be paid the daily maternity benefit for one
hundred (100) calendar days;

(b) That the maternity benefits provided under this section shall be
paid only for the first four deliveries;


(a) That the payment of maternity benefits shall be advanced by the
employer in two (2) equal installment within one (1) month from
the filing of the maternity leave application; and .

(b) That the Social Security System (SSS) and the Government
Service Insurance System (GSIS) shall immediately reimburse
the employer of one hundred percent (100%) of the amount of
maternity benefits advanced by the employer upon receipt of
proof of such payment.

SEC. 2. All laws, executive orders, proclamations, presidential
decrees, rules and regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof,
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national
newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes earlier.

Approved,