By Jim Lloyd Dongiapon
A Mindanaoan solon is putting forward legislation at the House of Representatives that would allow women employees in the country to have a two-day menstruation leave.
North Cotabato 3rd District Representative Maria Alana Samantha Taliño-Santos filed House Bill (HB) No. 6728, titled, “An Act granting menstruation leave of two (2) days a month with fifty (50) percent daily remuneration to all female employees in the private and public sectors”.
As the bill’s name implies, it would allow female employees to take two days off each month for menstruation while still receiving half of their regular daily pay.
Santos noted that a number of countries, including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Spain, and Zambia, have already granted such privileges to female workers.
She added that although some private companies allow menstrual leaves, these fall under the workers’ sick leaves.
Should it pass into law, the solon stated that employees cannot be fired, demoted, or subjected to discrimination on the basis of menstrual leave.
Employers who fail to comply with the proposed law’s provisions may face a ₱50,000 fine or a six-month jail sentence.
Currently, HB 6728 is still pending before the House Committee on Labor and Employment.