Maternity Leave for Child lives

President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for the
Philippines' new Expanding Maternity Leave Law (Republics Act 11210) which grants Mothers
over 3 months of paid leave on May 1,2019.

Superheaded by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE),the new law expands the
existing maternity leave benefits offered in both government and private offices that required
to give mothers a 105 days (from 60 days) for normal and caesarian delivery and an option to
extend maternity leave a further 30 days without pay,so long as written notice is given at least
45 days before the original leave is set to end.

Crucially,the law applies to all instances of pregnancy and all categories of working mothers. This means
the leave benifit ia available for female workers regardness of their civil status,employment status,or
method of delivery.The IRR also includes provisions to extends the new maternity benefits to women in
the informal economy sectors,to national athletes and to women who are voluntary contributors to the
Philippines Social Security System.

The law includes benefits for Fathers,up to 7 days of 105 days allocated to women for maternity leave
may be transferred to fathers,effectively raising the length of paid paternity leave to a potential of 15
days.The IRR also includes additional provision for single ,mother who will,under the new system,receive
120 days of paid maternuty leave.Incase od miscarriage,or emergency terminations,women will reiceve
60 days of maternity leave at full pay.

Some observers are worried that businesses may now hire fewer women as a way to protect profits
after the introduction of the Expanding Maternity Leave Law.The Trade Union Congress of the
Philippines (TUCP) highlighted a survey which showed that up to 70% of the members of the Employers
Confederation of the Philippines were concered by the possible ''higher cost implications'' of the
law.The TUCP interpreted that figure as a possibility that employers might seek to sidestep the problem
through discriminatory hiring practices.

Other employers think that Since the new maternity leaves are now in effect,its vital that employers in
our country adjust payroll to the new environment quickly.International employers should look
particularly closely at their employee population to establish who qualifies for the benifits,who will need
it,and how it will effect both their budget and their operations.