Manila: Senator Joel Villanueva on Wednesday expressed strong support for the proposed amendments to the Maternity Leave Law as part of a broader effort to promote inclusive employment through the administration’s ‘Trabaho Para Sa Bayan Plan 2025-2034.’ The reforms, outlined in the government’s 10-year master labor strategy, aim to ease the transition back to work for new mothers and advance gender equity in caregiving.

According to Philippines News Agency, the proposed amendment aims to incorporate provisions for reduced working hours post-maternity leave, with flexible options to return to full-time work as circumstances allow. Villanueva, a principal advocate of the labor blueprint, emphasized that caregiving should not fall solely on women. He highlighted the initiative to promote shared caregiving responsibilities between parents.

Villanueva stressed the necessity of these reforms to address the higher rate of unemployment and underemployment among women, which is driven by unequal caregiving burdens and persistent wage gaps. He pointed out that the number of unemployed or underemployed women is higher, which should not be overlooked.

The Maternity Leave Law was last amended in 2019 through the Expanded Maternity Leave Act, granting 105 days of paid leave to working mothers, with an optional 30-day extension without pay. Solo mothers are entitled to an additional 15 days. Under the TPB, the government is supporting at least 10 priority bills in Congress aimed at transforming the labor market, improving job access, and fostering a more equitable and family-friendly workplace environment.