HOLST OF REPRESENTATIVES:

RECEIVED
nil: 2016

DATE:
Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

REGISTRATION UNIT
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE
First Regular Session

856

House Bill No.

Introduced by HON. LINABELLE RUTH R. VILLARICA.
4" DISTRICT, BULACAN

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The State must protect women in their work places by keeping them informed of the
available facilities, the pertinent medical and health benefits due them, including the dangers and
hazards they are exposed to in their work.

Presently, however, while the Constitution and the Labor Code expressly mandate that
working women must be provided with safe and healthy working conditions, employers are not
required by law to furnish them with the needed information pertinent thereto.

This bill secks to effectively implement these statutory mandates and empower women to
be informed of the work conditions affecting their health.

Support for the enactment of this measure is eamestly requested.

Shit
REP. LINABELLE RUTH R. VILLARICA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

56
House Bill No. _ 856 —

Introduced by HON. LINABELLE RUTH R. VILLARICA
4™ DISTRICT, BULACAN

AN ACT GRANTING WOMEN THE RIGHT TO KNOW WORK CONDITIONS
AFFECTING THEIR HEALTH

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 “Women's Protection
Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State shall ensure safe and healthful working
conditions for women by considering their maternal functions, and such other facilities and
opportunities to enhance their welfare and realize their full potential in the service of the
nation. To achieve this goal, women shall be granted the right to know the work conditions
directly affecting their health.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. ~ For purposes of this Act, these terms are defined as
follows:

(a) Employer is any person acting in the interest of an employer, directly or indirectly,
including the government and all its branches, subdivisions, and instrumentalities, all
government-owned and controlled corporations and institutions, as well as non-profit
private institutions or organizations. ‘The term does not include labor organizations or
any of its officers or agents, except when acting as an employer; and

(b) Secretary is the Secretary of Labor and Employment.

SEC. 4. Required Information. —

(a) The prospective employer shall furnish in writing the following information to all
women applicants:

1. the danger(s) which workers are exposed to or might be exposed to;


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 occupational safety and health-related programs, trainings, medical
surveillance and research, screening tests for reproductive tract diseases,
provisions for technical support/advice, and development of information,
education and communication materials;

5. the availability of facilities for women which are required under Section 132 of
Presidential Decree No. 442, as amended, also known as the Labor Code of the
Philippines.

(6) Women already employed prior to the effectivity of this Act shall likewise be
informed as required under paragraph (a) of this section.

SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE) shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations within sixty (60)
days from the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 6. Annual Report. — The Secretary shall submit an annual report to the President.
The Report shall include:

(a) A list of work hazards, especially those that affect women’s maternal functions;
(b) A list of employers found to have violated any provisions of this Act; and
(c) Rate of compliance of employers with the provisions of this Act.

SEC, 7. Penalty. - Any violation of Section 4 of this Act shall be punished with a fine of
not less than twenty thousand pesos (Php 20,000.00) but not more than thirty thousand pesos
(Php 30,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than twelve
(12) months, or both at the discretion of the court. If the offense is committed by a
corporation, trust, partnership, or association, the same, may, after notice and hearing, be
dissolved in appropriate proceedings before the Securities and Exchange Commission. If the
offense is committed by a director, trustee or officer of the corporation, he shall be punished
by a fine of not less than two thousand pesos (Php 2,000.00) but not more than twenty
thousand pesos (Php 20,000.00) or by imprisonment for not less than twelve (12) months but
not more than six (6) years, or both, at the discretion of the court.

SEC. 8. Separability Clause. — If, for any reason any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected
shall remain valid and subsisting.


SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees or issuances, executive orders
or letters of instruction, administrative orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof contrary
to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended
accordingly.

SEC. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

‘Approved,