Alamin: Pagkakaiba ng special leave at maternity leave

Dr. Persida V. Rueda-Acosta / Magtanong Kay Attorney

Dear Chief Acosta, Ano ang pinagkaiba ng maternity leave at special leave benefit for women? — Sharon

Dear Sharon, Para sa inyongkaalaman, ang leave benefits na inyong nabanggit ay magkaiba. Ang maternity leave ay mula sa Labor Code na sinasabi ang mga sumusunod:

“Article 131. Maternity leave benefits.

a) Every employer shall grant to any pregnant woman employee who has rendered an aggregate service, of at least, six (6) months for the last twelve (12) months, maternity leave of, at least, two (2) weeks prior to the expected date of delivery and another four (4) weeks after normal delivery or abortion with full pay based on her regular or average weekly wages. The employer may require from any woman employee applying for maternity leave the production of a medical certificate stating that delivery will probably take place within two weeks.

b) The maternity leave shall be extended without pay on account of illness medically certified to arise out of the pregnancy, delivery, abortion or miscarriage, which renders the woman unfit for work, unless she has earned unused leave credits from which such extended leave may be charged.

c)The maternity leave provided in this Article shall be paid by the employer only for the first four (4) deliveries by a woman employee after the effectivity of this Code.”

Samantala, ang special leave benefit for women ay makikita sa Republic Act No. 9710 o mas kilala sa tawag na The Magna Carta for Women kung saan isinasaad na:

“Section 18. Special Leave Benefits for Women. - A woman employee having rendered continuous aggregate employment service of at least six (6) months for the last twelve (12) months shall be entitled to a special leave benefit of two (2) months with full pay based on her gross monthly compensation following surgery caused by gynecological disorders.”

Malinaw sa mga nabanggit na batas na magkaiba ang maternity leave at special leave benefit for women sapagkat magkaiba ang mga rason kung bakit ang mga ito ay ibinibigay ng batas. Ang maternity leave ay ibinibigay sa mga manganganak, nagkasakit dulot ng pagbubuntis o nalaglag ang dinadalang sanggol sa sinapupunan. Sa kabilang banda, ang special leave benefit for women naman ay ibinibigay sa mga sumailalim sa operasyon dahil sa gynecological disorders.

Nawa ay nasagot namin ang inyong katanungan. Nais naming ipaalala sa inyo na ang opinyong ito ay nakabase sa inyong mga naisalaysay sa inyong liham at sa pagkakaintindi namin dito. Maaaring maiba ang opinyon kung mayroong karagdagang impormasyong ibibigay. Mas mainam kung personal kayong sasangguni sa abogado.

Maraming salamat sa inyong patuloy na pagtitiwala.