Emphasizing the crucial role they play in ensuring the country’s sustainable path to economic recovery, Senator Bong Go has filed measures promoting the rights and welfare of workers in the country.
“Workers play a crucial role in the economic recovery after the pandemic. They are the backbone of many industries and essential to the functioning of businesses,” Go said.
“By continuing to work, they help to keep the economy running and support its growth.”
“By continuing to work, they help to keep the economy running and support its growth,” the legislator added.
The lawmaker introduced Senate Bill No. 1705 which proposes to increase the service incentive leave (SIL) of private sector employees; and SBN 1707 which seeks to provide competitive remuneration and compensation packages to social workers in the country.
If passed into law, SBN 1705 shall amend Article 95 of the Labor Code of the Philippines, mandating employers to give their employees a yearly SIL of ten days with pay.
Currently, the SIL is granted to a worker who has been in service within 12 months, whether continuous or broken, reckoned from the date the employee started working, including authorized absences and paid regular holidays.
The senator, however, noted that the Labor Code also provides that if the employer opts to grant employees with vacation leaves of at least five days, the employer shall be deemed compliant with the mandatory grant of the SIL. In effect, the mandatory leave credits are at a minimum of five days only and other leaves.
“The granting of this additional incentive leave is in recognition of the critical role and sacrifices that employees play in nation-building,” he noted.
“This measure also aims to boost the morale and satisfaction of employees which are manifested in increased productivity and minimize the risk of health and safety issues among employees,” Go added.
“This measure also aims to boost the morale and satisfaction of employees which are manifested in increased productivity and minimize the risk of health and safety issues among employees.”
Meanwhile, SBN 1707 or the proposed “Competitive Remuneration and Compensation Packages for Social Workers Act of 2023”, seeks to guarantee social workers protection from discrimination, interference, intimidation, harassment, or punishment, including, arbitrary reassignment or termination of service, in the performance of their duties and responsibilities.
Stressing that their contribution to society is “indispensable”, he said that it is imperative to uphold the rights and welfare of social workers “by ensuring competitive remuneration and compensation packages for them.”
The proposed bill also stipulates that the minimum base pay of Social Welfare Officer I in government institutions must not be lower than Salary Grade 13 with equivalent monthly salary as prescribed in the existing and applicable Modified Salary Schedule for Civilian Employees.
For social workers working in local government units, adjustments of their salaries must be in accordance with applicable laws.
The measure shall also protect their right to join, organize, or assist organizations or unions for lawful purposes.
Moreover, if the measure is enacted into law, social workers shall be protected from any act that will prevent them from applying professional interventions that their situation may require and opportunities for continuing professional growth and development.
“Habang dahan-dahang bumabalik ang sigla ng ekonomiya, dapat suportahan natin sila at bigyan ng mga proteksyon ang ating mga manggagawa dahil sila ang tunay na backbone ng ating ekonomiya,” Go stressed.
“Sama-sama nating ibabalik ang sigla ng ating kabuhayan. Bukas ang aking opisina sa kung ano pa ang pwede naming maitulong sa kanila,” he added.
Last year, Go also filed SBN 1183, or the proposed “Media and Entertainment Workers’ Welfare Act”, which seeks to provide enhanced protection, security and incentives for media workers through additional health insurance packages, overtime and night differential pay, and other benefits.
To ensure that those who reside in rural areas lacking job opportunities are taken care of, Go also filed SBN 420, which seeks to offer temporary employment to eligible members of low-income rural households who are ready to perform unskilled physical labor for a period of time.
Finally, the senator also filed SBN 1184 and 1191 which aims to further protect the welfare and interest of the country’s delivery service riders and seafarers, respectively.
