Senator Joel Villanueva's opening remarks during the labor hearing on bills proposing new employee leave benefits to workers

Magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat.

We will take up 10 Senate Bills that seek to provide leave benefits to our workers in private and public institutions.

Senators Binay, Ejercito, Legarda, Pangilinan, Recto and I, have introduced measures granting leave benefits in addition to the existing rest days, holidays and paid leaves in the Philippines, primarily to promote work-life balance. We believe that our people should be able to work and remain available to be there for their families whenever necessary.

May buhay po ang ating mga manggagawa sa labas ng kanilang mga opisina. May mga anak silang nasa eskwelahan. May mga pagkakataong kailangang unahin ang pangangailangan sa bahay, lalo na kung tungkol ito sa kalusugan at pag-aaral ng kanilang mga anak. Kaya nga't gusto nating amyendahan ang Labor Code sa pagsusulong ng mga bagong panukalang tutugon sa pangangailangan ng ating mga manggagawa.

First, Senate Bill No. 360 seeks to extend the application of parental leave, to a person other than the parents, who takes care of the child. Under the proposal, at least two working days for each minor child but shall not exceed 10 working days shall be given for each parent or legal guardian. On the other hand, our bill, Senate Bill No. 1064, seeks to provide 15 working days every year. We propose that even couples in the same establishment should be entitled to separate parental leaves as this will be in the best interest of their children.

I believe that the introduction of parental leave to both fathers and mothers will promote gender equality, and I know that we all agree that fathers also have caring responsibilities. Magkatuwang po talaga dapat ang mag-asawa sa pagpapalaki ng kanilang mga anak.

Second, Senate Bill Nos. 963, 1063 and 1209 seek to provide a paternity leave equal to 30 working days for the first four deliveries of legitimate or common-law spouse to every male employee, regardless of employment status, married, or common-law relationship.

Hindi po ba dapat kasama rin at naroon physically ang tatay kapag may bagong silang na sanggol sa pamilya? Studies have shown that an early interaction between father and child has longer-term positive impact on the child's learning abilities.

Third, Senate Bill Nos. 362 and 398 seek to grant working women in the private sector and public service to a one-day paid pre-natal leave every month from filing of notice of pregnancy until delivery, abortion or miscarriage. This is to ensure the safety and health of both mother and child.

These proposals by Senators Binay and Legarda are consistent with the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the "Magna Carta of Women".

Fourth, Senate Bill No. 1614 or the Service Incentive Bill seeks to increase the mandatory 5-day service incentive leave under the Labor Code to 10 days. Many employers are stepping forward and already, there are private companies that often give vacation and sick leaves to their employees, above the mandatory five-day service incentive leave under the Labor Code.

Kaya sa palagay ko, nakikita po talaga ng ating mga employers ang advantages ng pagbibigay ng dagdag na time-off sa kanilang mga empleyado at malaking hakbang po ito sa ating panukalang batas.

Fifth, Senate Bill No. 854 or the School Visitation Leave by Senator Recto seeks to grant employed parents or legal guardians of children attending public or private pre-school, elementary, and secondary schools three (3) days paid leave to attend school-related activities.

Kalimitan, mas nagiging prayoridad palagi ang trabaho kesa sa anak na naghihintay doon sa eskwelahan kasi mahirap naman talagang lumiban sa trabaho. Hindi naman po pwedeng ipasa nating mga magulang ang lahat ng responsibilidad sa mga guro ng ating mga anak. Importante rin kasi talaga ang "school-home connection".

Lastly, Senate Bill No. 1387 or the OFW Legitimate Spouse Leave Bill by Senator Ejercito will give every legitimate spouse-employee of an OFW in the private and public sectors an additional special leave credit of 15 days a year with full pay.

Kung asawa ka ng isang OFW, wala ka talagang kahati sa mga araw-araw na responsibilidad sa pagpapalaki ng iyong mga anak kaya makatwiran na bigyan ka ng dagdag na time-off sa trabaho.

These 10 bills uniformly propose to grant additional leaves to employees, and this afternoon, in this hearing, we want to know the impact of these proposed additional leaves, on labor cost and productivity; we want to know how will they affect the physical, mental and emotional development of our children; we want to know the difficulties encountered by workers in availing leaves under existing laws, among other issues.

Ang bottomline po nito, ay kinikilala nating sa labas ng opisina ay tuloy ang buhay ng mga manggagawa. Hindi humihinto ang pagiging magulang nila habang nasa trabaho. Hindi po dapat maging option ang mag-resign sa trabaho para lang magampanan ang tungkulin sa pamilya. Maraming paraan. Bigyan natin ng legal na options ang ating mga manggagawa.

Salamat po.