The Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office No. IV-A (CALABARZON) through its Quezon Provincial Office (DOLE-QPO) marks a juncture in the advancement of women’s rights as it holds its online initiative dubbed as “Tagayan: Ugnayang Manggagawa, Mamumuhunan at Pamahalaan Webinar Series”.
The webinar series which is also part of DOLE QPO’s 2023 Women’s Month Celebration was held via Zoom platform on March 31, 2023.
DOLE Quezon Provincial Head, Mr. Edwin T. Hernandez stated that both employers and employees in Quezon should be kept up to date on advancements on employment issues to protect them, particularly the women employees, from vulnerabilities in the workplace.
“The continual appeal for gender equality and women's empowerment in the workplace is incorporated in the Department’s responsibility to safeguard industrial peace,” Mr. Hernandez said.
Ms. Mylanie Rea of DOLE QPO explained during the webinar that the establishment of Republic Act No. 11210 otherwise known as the “Act Increasing the Maternity Leave Period to One Hundred Five (105) Days for Female Workers with an Option to Extend for an Additional Thirty (30) Days Without Pay, and Granting an Additional Fifteen (15) Days for Solo Mothers, and for Other Purposes” is pursuant to the declared policy of the state to protect and promote the rights and welfare of working women.
She emphasized that all female employees in the private sector, public sector, and informal economy including female national athletes and female members who voluntarily contribute to the Social Security System (SSS) are covered regardless of their civil status, employment status, or the legitimacy of their children.
Meanwhile, Mr. Roy R. Ladines of the SSS in Lucena City discussed the processing and requirements of filing for maternity benefits.
He mentioned that to avail of the benefit, the female worker must have at least three (3) monthly contributions in the twelve-month period immediately preceding the semester of the childbirth, miscarriage, or emergency termination of pregnancy.
"The female worker must notify the employer of her pregnancy and the probable date of her childbirth. However, failure of the female worker to give notice to her employer does not bar her from receiving maternity benefits, subject to SSS Guidelines," he said.
He highlighted that if the employer fails to send the female employee's notice of pregnancy and expected delivery date, as well as the required contributions for the female employee, the employer will be responsible for compensating SSS for damages in an amount equal to the benefits to which the female employee would otherwise be entitled.
DOLE QPO Senior Labor and Employment Officer, Engr. Ma. Angelica B. Balasta discussed the Special Leave Benefit under the Magna Carta of Women and Leave for Victims of Violence Against Women and Their Children during the afternoon session.
Engr. Balasta reminded the participants that all employees who have rendered at least six months of employment service and have undergone surgery due to gynecological disorder as certified by a competent physician can file an application for the special leave.
She also mentioned that female employees in both private and public sectors who are victims or victim-survivors of violence or abuse as defined under Republic Act No. 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act, are entitled to a leave of absence with full pay for a period of up to ten (10) days.
"In order for the victim-employee to be granted the 10-day VAWC leave, she needed to provide her employer with a document stating that a VAWC action had been initiated or was still ongoing. This certification may be given by the Punong Barangay, the Barangay Captain, a barangay kagawad, a prosecutor, or the court clerk, depending on the circumstances," she emphasized.
The said webinar was attended by 81 participants coming from the management, labor and government sectors in Quezon.
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DOLE QUEZON ISINULONG ANG PAGKAKAPANTAY-PANTAY NG KASARIAN AT INKLUSIBONG LIPUNAN SA PAMAMAGITAN NG LABOR EDUCATION
Ang Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office No. IV-A (CALABARZON) sa pamamagitan ng Quezon Provincial Office (DOLE-QPO) ay nagmamarka sa pagsusulong ng mga karapatan ng kababaihan habang sa pamamagitan ng online na inisyatiba na tinatawag na “Tagayan: Ugnayang Manggagawa, Mamumuhunan at Pamahalaan Serye sa Webinar”.
Ang webinar series na bahagi rin ng 2023 Women’s Month Celebration ng DOLE QPO ay ginanap sa pamamagitan ng Zoom platform noong Marso 31, 2023.
Ipinahayag ni DOLE Quezon Provincial Head, G. Edwin T. Hernandez na ang mga employer at empleyado sa Quezon ay dapat panatilihing napapanahon tungkol sa mga isyu sa trabaho upang maprotektahan sila, partikular ang mga babaeng empleyado, mula sa mga kahinaan sa lugar ng trabaho.
"Ang patuloy na apela para sa pagkakapantay-pantay ng kasarian at pagpapalakas sa mga kababaihan sa lugar ng trabaho ay kasama sa responsibilidad ng Kagawaran na pangalagaan ang kapayapaang pang-industriya," sabi ni G. Hernandez.
Ipinaliwanag ni Ms. Mylanie Rea ng DOLE QPO sa webinar na ang pagkakapasa ng Republic Act No. 11210 o kilala bilang “Act Increasing the Maternity Leave Period to One Hundred Five (105) Days for Female Workers with an Option to Extend for an Additional Thirty (30) Days Without Pay, and Granting an Additional Fifteen (15) Days for Solo Mothers, and for Other Purposes” ay alinsunod sa ipinahayag na patakaran ng estado na protektahan at itaguyod ang mga karapatan at kapakanan ng kababaihang nagtatrabaho.
Binigyang-diin niya na ang lahat ng babaeng empleyado sa pribadong sektor, pampublikong sektor, at impormal na ekonomiya kabilang ang mga babaeng pambansang atleta at babaeng miyembro na boluntaryong naghuhulog sa Social Security System (SSS) ay sakop anuman ang kanilang katayuang sibil, katayuan sa trabaho, o ang pagiging lehitimo ng kanilang mga anak.
Samantala, tinalakay naman ni G. Roy R. Ladines ng SSS sa Lucena City ang pagpoproseso at mga kinakailangan ng paghahain ng maternity benefits sa ilalim ng SSS.
Binanggit niya na upang mapakinabangan ang benepisyo, ang babaeng manggagawa ay dapat magkaroon ng hindi bababa sa tatlong (3) buwanang kontribusyon sa labindalawang buwang panahon bago ang semestre ng panganganak, pagkakunan, o emergency na pagtatapos ng pagbubuntis.
"Dapat ipaalam ng babaeng manggagawa sa employer ang kanyang pagbubuntis at ang posibleng petsa ng kanyang panganganak. Gayunpaman, ang pagkabigo ng babaeng manggagawa na magbigay ng abiso sa kanyang amo ay hindi humahadlang sa kanya sa pagtanggap ng maternity benefits, alinsunod sa SSS Guidelines," aniya.
Binigyang-diin niya na kung hindi maipadala ng employer ang notipikasyon ng pagbubuntis ng babaeng empleyado at inaasahang petsa ng panganganak, gayundin ang mga kinakailangang kontribusyon para sa babaeng empleyado, mananagot ang employer na bayaran ang SSS para sa mga pinsala sa halagang katumbas ng mga benepisyo na nanarapat matanggap ng babeng manggagawa.
Tinalakay ni DOLE QPO Senior Labor and Employment Officer, Engr. Ma. Angelica B. Balasta ang Special Leave Benefit sa ilalim ng Magna Carta of Women and Leave for Victims of Violence Against Women and their Children sa sesyon ng hapon.
Pinaalalahanan ni Engr. Balasta ang mga nagsidalo na ang lahat ng empleyado na nakapagbigay ng hindi bababa sa anim na buwang serbisyo sa trabaho at sumailalim sa operasyon dahil sa gynecological disorder na sertipikado ng isang karampatang manggagamot ay maaaring maghain ng aplikasyon para sa espesyal na bakasyon.
Binanggit din niya na ang mga babaeng empleyado sa parehong pribado at pampublikong sektor na biktima o biktima-nakaligtas sa karahasan o pang-aabuso gaya ng tinukoy sa ilalim ng Republic Act No. 9262, o ang Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act, ay may karapatan sa leave ng pagliban na may buong sahod sa loob ng hanggang sampung (10) araw.
"Upang mabigyan ng 10-araw na leave sa VAWC ang biktima-empleyado, kailangan niyang magbigay sa kanyang employer ng isang dokumento na nagsasaad na ang isang aksyon sa VAWC ay sinimulan o patuloy pa rin. Ang sertipikasyong ito ay maaaring ibigay ng Punong Barangay, ang Barangay Captain, isang barangay kagawad, isang prosecutor, o ang court clerk, depende sa pagkakataon," aniya.
Ang nasabing webinar ay dinaluhan ng 81 na katao na nagmula sa mga sector ng management, labor at government sa Quezon.
by:
FRANZ RAYMOND J. AQUINO
Senior Labor and Employment Officer
