SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC o r  THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
SENATE BILL NO. 1387
Senate
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MAR 13
RtCtlVLJ
P 3 5 3
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO
AN ACT
GRANTING A SPECIAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE OF FIFTEEN (15) 
DAYS A YEAR WITH FULL PAY TO ALL LEGITIMATE SPOUSES 
OF OVERSEAS WORKERS IN THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC 
SECTORS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) contribute greatly to the 
nation building. Tliis year alone, OFWs remitted billions of dollars to the 
country to the much-needed foreign currency into the economy. This 
bright spot, however, has its own drawbacks. OFWs reap the fruits of 
their labor earning money from foreign countries, but they suffer in 
silence the tremendous solitude and isolation in distant lands, away from 
the comfort and love of their families and friends.
Families of OFWs also carry the same burden. They bear the pain 
of separation from loved ones, who have to travel thousand miles to earn 
a living. As a result, many OFW families are dysfunctional.
An Overseas Filipino Worker's spouse necessarily plays the role 
of both father and mother back home. Like a single parent, said spouse 
alone will have to attend to the needs of their family. The demands of the 
double role played by the OFW spouse are so heavy that they often do 
not have time to carry out or complete their tasks.
The bill aims to give every legitimate spouse-employee of an 
OFW in the private and public sectors an additional special leave credit 
of fifteen (15) days a year with full pay, subject to certain expectations.


The passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
^
JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
SENATE BILL NO. 1387
\0 tfic f cf t;K fc'fctfinrj*
'17 
MAR 13 
P3 5 3
RECtlv'LD liV.
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO
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AN ACT
GRANTING A SPECIAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE OF FIFTEEN (15) 
DAYS A YEAR WITH FULL PAY TO ALL LEGITIMATE SPOUSES 
OF OVERSEAS WORKERS IN THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC 
SECTORS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted Inj the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Special Leave 
for Overseas Workers' Spouses Act of 2017".
SECTION 2. Notwithstanding any law, rules and regulations to the 
contrary, every legitimate spouse-employee of an overseas worker in the 
private and public sectors shall be entitled to an overseas worker's 
spouse leave of fifteen (15) days a year with full pay.
Employees availing this leave privilege shall submit to their 
employer the following:
1. Name of spouse;
2. Copy of their Marriage Contract;
3. Information as to the nature and place of work of the overseas
worker concerned;
4. Copy of the overseas worker's passport.
SEC 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms 
shall have the meaning as indicated hereunder;
1. "Employee" refers to any person who performs services for another 
and receives compensation therefor, provided an employer-employee
relationship exists between them;
2. "Overseas worker" refers to a person who is engaged in a


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remunerated activity in a state of which he or she is not a legal 
resident;
3. "Special Overseas Worker's Sfxmse Leave" refers to the leave benefits 
with pay for a period of fifteen (15) days a year granted to an 
employee who is a legitimate spouse of an overseas worker.
4. "Spouse" refers to the legitimate wife or husband; one who is 
legally married to the overseas worker concerned.
SEC 4. Disqualifications. - The following employees shall not be allowed 
to avail of this leave;
1. Those who are absent from work without official leave;
2. Those who are on vacation, sick, forced or study leave, or those 
who have already availed of other forms of leave allowed by law;
3. Those whose services are necessary to prevent loss of life or 
damage to property, brcnight about by serious accidents, fires, 
flood.s, typhoons, earthquake, epidemic or other disasters.
SEC 5. Tax Credit; Income Tax Deduction for Employers in Non-Government 
Institutions. - Employers in non-government institutions granting this 
leave benefit shall be accorded income tax deduction from its gross 
income for each taxable year, based on the actual cost paid by the 
employer in granting this leave benefit to its qualified employees.
For purpose of claiming tax credits, private establishments are 
required to keep separate records of their employees who avail of this 
leave benefit.
SEC 6. The Secretary of Labor and Employment and the Chairman of the 
Civil Service Commission shall, within thirty (30) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, issue such rules and regulations necessary for the 
proper implementation of the provisions of this law.
SEC 7. Any person, corporation, trust, firm, partnership, association or 
entity found violating this Act or the rules and regulations promulgated 
thereunder shall be punished by a fine not exceeding Twenty five 
thousand pesos (P25,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than thirty (30) 
days nor more than six (6) months.


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If the violation is committed by a corporation, trust or firm, 
partnership, association or any other entity, the penalty of imprisonment 
shall be imposed on the entity's responsible officers, including, but not 
limited to, the president, vice-president, chief executive officer, general 
manager, managing director or partner directly responsible therefor.
SEC 8. Nou-diniimition Clause. - Nothing in this Act shall be construed to 
reduce any existing benefits of any form granted under existing laws, 
decrees, executive orders, or any contract, agreement or policy between 
employer and employee.
SEC 9. Refvaliug Clause. - All laws, ordinances, rules regulatioas, 
issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC 10. Effectivihj. - Tliis Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of 
national circulation.
Approved,