FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PH1LIPPr"ES 
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First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. B. No. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article XIII, Section 14, mandates the State to "protect working 
women by providing safe and healthful working conditions, taking into account their maternal 
functions, and such other facilities and opportunities that will enhance their welfare and enable 
them to realize their full potential in the service of the nation." 
Such provision would be ineffectual if women are not informed of the rights guaranteed 
To this date, employers are not required by any law to furnish women pertinent 
by law. 
information regarding their work conditions. 
This bill seeks to grant and strengthen the right of women to be informed of work 
conditions which affect their health, by providing punishment for employers who will deny such 
right.* 
*This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
S. B. No. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
GRANTING WOMEN THE RIGHT TO KNOW 
WORK CONDITIONS AFFECTING THEIR HEALTH 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House OfRepresentatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assem bled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the “Women’s Protection Act.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - The Constitution directs the State to protect 
working women by providing safe and healthful worlcing conditions, talking into account their 
maternal functions, and such other facilities and opportunities that will enhance their welfare and 
enable them to realize their full potential in the service of the nation. To achieve this mandate, it 
is declared a state policy to grant women the right to know work conditions which affect their 
health. 
SECTION 3. Dejinition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the tern: 
(A) “Employer” includes any person acting in the interest of an employer, directly or 
indirectly. The term shall not include any labor organization or any of its officers or agents 
except when acting as an employer; and 
(B) “Secretary” refers to the Secretary of Labor and Employment. 
SECTION 4. Required Information. - 
(A) The prospective employer shall furnish in writing the following information to all 
women applications: 
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(1) The danger which workers are exposed to or might he exposed to; 


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(2) The medical and health benefits which workers are entitled to, including 
maternity leave benefits and the availability of family planning services; 
(3) The health hazards associated with this work, including hazards that may 
affect their maternal functions; 
(4) The availability of facilities for women which are required under Presidential 
Decree No. 442, as amended, also known as the Labor Code, Section 132. 
(B) Women already employed prior to the effectivity of this Act shall likewise be 
furnished information required under paragraph (A) of this section. 
SECTION 5. Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Labor and Employment shall 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the purpose of this Act. 
SECTION 6. Annual Report. - The Secretary shall submit an annual report to the 
President. The report shall include the following: 
(A) A list of work hazards, especially those that affect women’s maternal functions; 
(B) A list of employers found to have violated any provision of this Act; and 
(C) Rate of compliance of employers with the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 7. Penalty. - Any violation of Section 4 of this Act shall be punished with a 
fine of not less than Ten Thousand Pesos @‘lO,OOO.OO) 
but not more than Twenty Thousand 
Pesos (P20,OOO.OO) or imprisonment of not less than three (3) months but not more than six (6) 
months, or both at the discretion of the court. If the offense is committed by a corporation, trust, 
partnership, or association or entity. 
SECTION 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent 
with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 


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SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall talce effect fifteen (15) days aAer its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved,