President Rodrigo Duterte signed the expanded maternity leave bill into law. The law extends paid maternity leave to 105 days from the current 60, with an option to extend for 30 days without pay. Under the law, employees who are solo parents should also be granted an additional 15 days of paid maternity leave. The bill was ratified by both the House of Representatives and Senate during the bicameral conference in October. In a press conference, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that Duterte's signing of the law may be perceived to "lessen profits" for employers. But he said that company owners have "big profits" and that expanded benefits should be the "social service."

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Philippine Star