Maternity leave, maaaring makuha kahit hindi kasal ang babaeng kawani

ni Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta - @Magtanong Kay Attorney | May 14, 2021

Dear Chief Acosta,

Nabuntis ang kapatid ko ng kanyang live-in partner. May edad na rin sila at walang sabit kaya hindi na namin kinukuwestiyon ang kanilang desisyon na magsama. Sa kasamaang-palad nga lamang ay nakunan ang aking kapatid kahit na siya ay nasa huling trimester na ng kanyang pagbubuntis. Maaari ba siyang lumiban sa pribadong trabaho niya ng 100 plus days? Ang narinig ko noon sa balita ay mas mahaba na ang benepisyo ng maternity sa ngayon. Ito rin ba ay maa-avail niya kahit hindi sila kasal at live-in lamang? –

Sandie

Dear Sandie,

Sa ilalim ng kasalukuyang batas, ang Republic Act (R. A.) No. 11210, higit na napalawig na ang benepisyo na ipinagkakaloob sa mga buntis na kababaihang kawani. Nakasaad sa Section 3 ng R. A. No. 11210, o mas kilala bilang “105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law” ang sumusunod:

“All covered female workers in the government and in the private sector, including those in the informal economy, regardless of civil status or the legitimacy of her child, shall be granted one hundred five days (105) maternity leave with full pay and an option to extend for an additional thirty (30) days without pay: Provided, That in case the worker qualifies as a solo parent under Republic Act No. 8972, or the “Solo Parents’ Welfare Act,” the worker shall be granted an additional fifteen (15) days maternity leave with full pay.

x x x

Maternity Leave shall be granted to female workers in every instance of pregnancy, miscarriage or emergency termination of pregnancy, regardless of frequency: Provided, That for cases of miscarriage or emergency termination of pregnancy, sixty (60) days of maternity leave with full pay shall be granted.”

Kung susuriing maigi ang nabanggit na probisyon ng batas, ang mga nakunan o nag-miscarry o nag-emergency termination ng kanilang pagbubuntis ay makatatanggap ng benepisyo na animnapung (60) araw na may sahod. Ang patakarang ito ay ipinatutupad kapwa sa pribado at pampublikong sektor:

“SEC. 4. Maternity Leave for Female Workers in the Public Sector. – x x x

Maternity leave of sixty (60) days, with full pay, shall be granted for miscarriage or emergency termination of pregnancy.

SEC. 5. Maternity Leave for Female Workers in the Private Sector. – Any pregnant female worker in the private sector shall be granted a maternity leave of one hundred five days (105) maternity leave with full pay, regardless of whether she gave birth via caesarian section or natural delivery, while maternity leave of sixty (60) days with full pay shall be granted for miscarriage or emergency termination of pregnancy.” (R. A. No. 11210)

Nais din naming bigyang-diin na kahit hindi kasal ang inyong kapatid at sila ay live-in partner lamang ay maaari pa rin niyang matanggap ang nasabing benepisyo. Malinaw na nakasaad sa Section 7 ng R. A. No. 11210 ang sumusunod:

“SEC. 7. Maternity Leave for Women Regardless of Civil Status. – All female workers in the government and female members of the SSS, regardless of their civil status, shall be granted maternity leave, with full pay, upon compliance with the preceding section.”

Sana ay nabigyan namin ng linaw ang inyong katanungan. Ang payong aming ibinigay ay base lamang sa impormasyon na inyong inilahad at maaaring magbago kung mababawasan o madaragdagan ang mga detalye ng inyong salaysay.

Maraming salamat sa inyong patuloy na pagtitiwala.