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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City
TIME __1:44 pm
NINETEENTH CONGRESS i
First Regular Session

House Bill No.__2345__

Introduced by
HON. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ

an
HON. JUDE A. ACIDRE

AN ACT
GRANTING BEREAVEMENT LEAVE OF TEN (10) DAYS WITH FULL PAY TO ALL
EMPLOYEES IN THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 18, Article I! of the 1987 Philippine Constitution mandates the State to
protect the rights of workers and promote their welfare. It affirms the duty of the State
to provide full protection to and promote the rights of the laborers which includes their
right to paid days off to improve their well-being and efficiency.

Currently, employees are entitled to the following statutory leaves: service
incentive leave; maternity leave or paternity leave, whichever is applicable; parental
leave for solo parents; special leave for women; and leave under the Violence Against
‘Women Act. However, no mandatory leaves are granted to employees who have
recently lost a family member.

This bill seeks to grant employees, both in private and public sector,
bereavement leave of ten (10) days with full pay. It shall allow the employee to take a
leave from work to grieve and recover from the loss without sacrificing his income.

DATE July 26, 2022

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In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly ‘sought.

Rep. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ
Representative /Tingog Sinirangan

. ACIDRE
ive, Tingog Sinirangan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2345 __

Introduced by

HON. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ
and
HON. JUDE A. ACIDRE

AN ACT
GRANTING BEREAVEMENT LEAVE OF TEN (10) DAYS WITH FULL PAY
TO ALL EMPLOYEES IN THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

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

Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the "Bereavement
Leave Act of 2022."

Section 2. Dec/aration of State Policy. The State affirms that the
Filipino family is the foundation of the nation and recognizes that the death of
an immediate family member bears a significant emotional and psychological
burden upon a family member. A bereavement leave benefit system is hereby
institutionalized to support employees in the public and private sectors who
have recently lost relatives belonging to their immediate family.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. For the purposes of this Act, the
following terms shall be defined as follows:
a. Bereavement Leave refers to a leave taken by an employee to grieve
the death, or to attend or make arrangements for the funeral, of an
immediate family member.


b. Immediate Family Member refers to an employee's spouse, parent,
child, brother, or sister, and relatives within the third degree of
consanguinity or affinity.

Section 4. Bereavement Leave for Immediate Family Members.
Employees in the private and public sectors shall be entitled to a bereavement
leave of ten (10) days with full pay following the death of an employee's
immediate family member.

Section 5. Non-diminution of Benefits. Nothing in this Act shall be
construed to reduce existing benefits granted under existing laws, decrees,
executive orders, or any contract, agreement, or policy between the employer
and employee.

Section 6. Security of Tenure. Employees in the public and private
sectors who avail of bereavement leave provided under this Act shall be
assured of security of tenure. Availment of the leave shall not be used as reason
for misconduct, demotion, or termination in employment, or for any form of
unsatisfactory performance.

Section 7. Penalties. 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-
thousand pesos (Php 20,000.00) or imprisonment of fifteen (15) days to one (1)
month.

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.

Section 8. /mplementing Rules and Regulations. The Department of


Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC), for
the private sector and public sector respectively, shall issue the necessary rules
and regulations of this act within thirty (30) days of its effectivity.

Section 9. Separability Clause. \f, for any reason, any part, section or
provision of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions
not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

Section 10. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules,
regulations and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. Republic Act
No. 1161, as amended, is further amended accordingly.

Section 11. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,