In a joint hearing, the House Committee on Labor and Employment chaired by Rep. Randolph Ting (3rd District, Cagayan) and Committee on Civil Service and Professional Regulation chaired by Rep. Marvey Marino (5th District, Batangas) initially discussed five proposals to grant bereavement leave with pay to employees in the private and public sectors, which they may avail of in case of death of an immediate family member.
The two committees have agreed to come up with a substitute bill.
The committees also asked the resource persons present and concerned government agencies to submit their position papers.
The hearing allowed the authors of House Bills (HB) 4071, 5711, 6043, 6119 and 6581 to explain the rationale for filing their respective proposals.
Deputy Speaker Mylene Garcia-Albano, author of HB 4071, expressed surprise that there is no bereavement leave law.
“Having suffered the loss of a father, I really could see the sad effects of the death of a family member. I was quite pleased when a friend approached me and suggested that I file a bill such as this one,” said Garcia-Albano.
Garcia-Albano’s bill seeks to grant a bereavement leave with pay for 10 days to employees in the private sector and the government. The leave can be granted in case of death of a spouse, child, parent or sibling.
Meanwhile, HB 6119 authored by Rep. Lorna Silverio (3rd District, Bulacan) seeks to grant a bereavement leave of five days with full compensation, subject to reasonable limitations. It aims to maintain a productive work environment and provide support for a grieving employee.
“The bill seeks to grant a bereavement leave of five days with full compensation, subject to reasonable limitations. It aims to maintain a productive work environment and provide support for a grieving employee.”
Silverio said there are several leave credits that are reserved for family events such as vacation leave, maternity and paternity leaves, and special leaves for birthdays and other celebrations.
“It is quite ironic that mourning the loss of a loved one is not even in the leave credit list that an employee can avail of when needed,” said Silverio.
She said the primordial goal of a company should be helping the employee emotionally recover before coming back to work during bereavement.
“It is stated in some clinical studies that the ability to manage your emotions and mental stress has a direct link to one’s performance in his work place. Given that circumstance, it is clear that a grieving employee’s mindset is not on the right track and he or she cannot achieve the desired output,” said Silverio.
“It is stated in some clinical studies that the ability to manage your emotions and mental stress has a direct link to one’s performance in his work place. Given that circumstance, it is clear that a grieving employee’s mindset is not on the right track and he or she cannot achieve the desired output.”
Rep. Mark Go (Lone District, Baguio City) meanwhile said the job of the lawmakers is to balance the interest of the employer and the employee.
For her part, Rep. Theresa Collantes (3rd District, Batangas) expressed support for a bereavement leave of three days.
HB 4071, 6043 and 6581 seek to grant a bereavement leave with pay of 10 days while HB 5711 and 6119 propose a leave with pay for five days.
