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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS:
First Regular Session

House BiLL No,_3650

Introduced by Rep. Winston “Winnie”Castelo:

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Constitution has a special concern for working women.

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.” (Section 14, Article XIll).

Even the International Labor Organization (ILO), through the ILO Convention No. 103, is
urging 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)

The bill envisions that the maternity leave benefits be increased from sixty (60) calendar
days to on t-four (84) calendar Bays for normal delivery and one hundred S100),

conditions.

The immediate passage of this bill is therefore earnestly sought.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No._3650

Introduced by Rep. Winston “Winnie”Castelo

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

Be it enacted in the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of the
Philippines in Congress assembled’

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the ‘Maternity Leave Benefits Act of
2016.’

SEC. 2. A covered female employee who has paid at least three (3) monthly
contributions to the Social Security System (SSS), in the case of private sector
employees or the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) in the case of
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,

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

d. That the SSS and the 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. 3, All laws, executive orders, proclamations, presidential decrees, rules
and regulations, issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers.

Approved,