SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) RECEIVED
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) KE 08 AUG 2016

First Regular Session ) ae

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE!
10
H.no,_2610 REQISTR ATION UNIT
CIS AN a
Introduced by Representative Vilma Santos-Reeto
6th District of Batangas

AN ACT
GRANTING EMPLOYEES THREE DAYS PAID LEAVE TO ATTEND SCHOOL-
RELATED ACTIVITIES OF THEIR CHILDREN

Explanatory Note

Article XV of the 1987 Constitution recognizes the Filipino family as the foundation of
the nation and underscores the importance of strengthening its solidarity and actively promoting
its total development. To wit:

(a) The right of spouses to found a family in accordance with their religious convictions
and the demands of responsible parenthood;

(b) The right of children to assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and special
protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and other conditions
prejudicial to their development;

(c) The right of the family to a family living wage and income; and

(d) The right of families or family associations to participate in the planning and
implementation of policies and programs that affect them.

It is in this light that this bill is put forward. This proposed measure seeks to grant
employed parents or legal guardians of schoolchildren three (3) days paid leave to attend school-
related activities. It aims to encourage parental involvement in the educational system and grant
employed parents and guardians who are unable to meet with educators because of work conflict,
the right to an allotment of time during the school year to attend educational or behavioral
conferences of their children.

The bill covers employees who have rendered service for at least six (6) consecutive
months and whose child/children are attending public or private pre-school, elementary, and
secondary schools. The child or children can be biological, adopted or foster child, a stepchild or
a legal ward of the employee.

To deter the arbitrary use of the school visitation rights by employees, the bill requires
that such leave can only be taken when the employee has exhausted all accrued vacation leave,
personal leave, compensatory leave and any other leaves that may be granted except sick leave
and disability leave.

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In addition, the parent or guardian will also be required to submit a documentation of the
school visitation which shall be provided by the school administrator. Failure to do so shall
subject the employee to the standard disciplinary procedures imposed by the employer for
unexcused absences from work. an

- .
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is eamnéstly sought

VILMA SANTOS-RECTO

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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES)

First Regular Session )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.No.__2610

Introduced by Representative Vilma Santos-Recto
6th District of Batangas

AN ACT
GRANTING EMPLOYEES THREE DAYS PAID LEAVE TO ATTEND SCHOOL-
RELATED ACTIVITIES OF THEIR CHILDREN.

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

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “School Visitation Rights Act.”

Src. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared as a policy of the State to
encourage parental involvement in the educational system and grant employed parents and
guardians who are unable to meet with educators because of a work conflict the right to an

allotment of time during the school year to attend necessary educational or behavioral

conferences in the school attended by their child/children.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. ~ As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean:

(a) "Employee" means a person who performs services for hire for an employer for at
least six (6) consecutive months immediately preceding a request for leave under this Act:

(b) "Employer" means a natural or juridical person, who is contractually bound to
provide a salary or wage to an employee in exchange for the performance of work;

(©) “Child” means a biological, adopted or foster child, a stepchild or a legal ward of an
employee and who is enrolled in a public or private pre-school, elementary or secondary school;

(d) "Schoo!" means any public or private pre-school, elementary or secondary school or
educational facility located within the country;

(e) "School administrator” means the principal or equivalent administrator who is
responsible for the operations of the school.

Sec. 4. School conference and activity leave. — An employer must grant an employee a
paid school visitation leave of up to three (3) days during any school year which may be taken on
any given day, to attend school conferences or classroom activities related to the
employee's child if the conference or classroom activities cannot be scheduled during non-
work hours: Provided, That no leave may be taken unless the employee has first exhausted all
accrued vacation leave, personal leave, compensatory leave and any other leaves that may be

granted to the employee except sick leave and disability leave.

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Before arranging attendance at the conference or activity, the employee shall provide the
employer with a written request for leave at least seven (7) days in advance of the time the
employee is required to utilize the visitation right. In emergency situations, no more than twenty
four (24) hours notice shall be required. The employee must consult with the employer to
schedule the leave so as not to unduly disrupt the operations of the employer.

Sec. 5. Verification. -Upon completion of the school visitation rights by a parent or

guardian, the school administrator shall provide the parent or guardian with the necessary
documentation of the school visitation. ‘The parent or guardian shall submit such proof of

verification to the employer. The Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Labor and

Employment shall suggest a standard form of documentation of school visitation to schools for

use as required by this Section. The standard form of documentation shall include, but not be

limited to, the exact time and date the ion occurred and ended. The failure of a parent or
guardian to submit the verification statement from the school to the employer within two (2)
working days of the school visitation shall subject the employee to the standard disciplinary
procedures imposed by the employer for unexcused absence from work.

Sec. 6. No diminution of visitation rights. - Nothing in this Act shall prevent an
employer from providing school visitation rights in excess of those allowed under this Act. The
rights afforded by this Act shall not be diminished by any collective bargaining act or by any
employce benefit plan.

SEC. 7. Limits on Leave. -- No employer that is subject to this Act is required to grant
the school visitation leave to an employee if granting the leave would result in more than five
percent (5%) of the employer's work force or five percent (5%) of an employer's work force shift
attending a school conference or activity leave at the same time.

SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Department of Labor and
Employment and the Civil Service Commission shall issue the implementing rules and

regulations for the effective implementation of this Act not later than thirty (30) days from the

approval of this Act.
SEC. 9. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication either
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

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