(Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law the expanded maternity leave bill.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said the bill was signed into law by Duterte on Wednesday, Feb. 20, before the 30-day deadline within which proposed measures should have been acted on before they lapse into laws.
Under the version approved by Congress, the number of paid maternity leaves was increased to 105 from the current 60 paid leaves for normal delivery, and 78 days for caesarean delivery.
Of these 105, 7 days are transferable to fathers.
Single mothers can avail of an additional 15 days of leave credits under that version.
Mothers may also opt to extend their leave for another 30 days without pay.
Under the Congress-approved version, the law applies to all instances of pregnancies.