Bong Revilla: It is now high time to push for Family and Medical Leave Act

Bong Revilla expressed his passion to actively push for the Family and Medical Leave Act once re-elected as senator, believing that it will help ease the burden of millions of Filipino employees with family members suffering from serious illness.

Under this Act, a legitimate employee working in any government office or private institution will be given 15 days leave with compensation in a year to personally look after any member of his or her immediate family which includes his or her mother and father, children, spouse, and parents-in-law.

Like other leave privileges, the Family and Medical Leave Act provides a paid leave for availing workers.

Revilla believes that compensation for employees on leave to look after their family members with serious illness will help them in their medical expenses.

According to the Philippine Labor Code, local employees can enjoy the following leave benefits: five (5) days service incentive leave for employee who has rendered at least one (1) year of service; Maternity Leave with pay of sixty (60) days for normal delivery and seventy-eight (78) days for caesarian section delivery for every pregnant employee in the private sector; seven (7) days Paternity Leave; seven (7) days Solo Parent Leave; ten (10) days Leave with pay for Victims of Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC); and Special Leave for Women of maximum two (2) months with full pay who have rendered continuous aggregate employment service of 6 months for the last 12 months, following surgery caused by gynecological disorders.