The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has urged the Senate to approve a bill offering maternity benefits to women working in the informal sector, pointing out that the law excludes women who have not contributed to the Social Security System (SSS).
Senate Bill 148 amends Republic Act 11210, often known as the Expanded Maternity Leave Act, by adding a clause that provides pregnant informal female employees with a one-time maternity cash payment.
According to Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who introduced Senate Bill No. 148 in 2022, the Expanded Maternity Leave Law exclusively helps SSS members and excludes individuals who are unable to make voluntary contributions, such as "sari-sari store owners, handicraft and tool assemblers, street vendors, and farmers."
The CHR said that about 250,000 Filipino women have no access to SSS benefits as members of the informal sector, justifying the urgent passage of the bill.
It also added that the proposed measure is expedient for Filipino women in the informal sector and children, as the average minimum wage in the country falls below P570.
The human rights organization explained that the constant rise in the cost of goods and commodities is forcing family members, particularly pregnant women, to work in the informal sector in order to satisfy the requirements of their families.
It added that the Senate Bill would also help ensure that women in the informal economy receive the same benefits as those in the formal sector.
