Do your employees have trouble home-schooling kids? There may be a solution on the cards
A new bill passed by the Senate of the Philippines wants government and private sector companies to establish day-care centres in the workplace - as part of a bigger program to grant more benefits to working solo parents. The Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act, which seeks to amend Republic Act No. 8972 or An Act Providing for Benefits and Privileges to Solo Parents and the Children, was passed in the Senate's third and final reading on Monday.
One of the provisions in the amendment states that national government agencies, including government-owned and controlled corporations with more than 300 employees, as well as private companies with more than 200 staff, to establish day-care centres to accommodate their employees' children who are aged five years and below. It will be free and accessible to all employees, with priority given to solo parents as defined in the bill.
"These services shall be provided within the workplace, as much a possible, or in a nearby accessible location," the bill read.
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In addition to existing benefits, the bill also wants to give solo parents telecommuting benefits with their employers, where they will be given priority. It also grants working solo parents of seven days of parental leave, as long as they already rendered six months of work in the public or private sector regardless of employment status. The bill also wants more benefits for solo parents in the society, including discounts on infant formula, diapers, medicines, vaccines, medical equipment, and other necessities. It also seeks discount for hospital bills and school tuition fees for their child.
"We have about fifteen million solo-parent families here in the Philippines, and we need to make sure that they are receiving the help that they require in raising healthy, educated children with happy home lives," said Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, who is the co-author and co-sponsor of the bill.
