7-day bereavement bill proposed

‘The proposed bereavement leave of 7 days is excellent, but I believe they would be more humane if they prolong it to at least 15 days and a maximum of one month’

Wage earners will be given a seven-day bereavement leave under the proposed legislation of Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo.

Once enacted, the leave would be in addition to any paid leave entitlements to which employees are presently eligible.

“Availment of the leave shall not be considered a misconduct or any form of unsatisfactory performance, nor can it be used as a reason for demotion, suspension or termination from employment,” the bill read.

Employers violating the law will be slapped with a maximum fine of P20,000 or up to 30 days in prison.

There have been similar bills introduced beginning in the 17th Congress, but all of them have not gone past the committee level.

Norie Amando, whose father died of heart arrest in 2016, said Congress must consider House Bill 4340 granting the leave in the event of the passing of a spouse, a full or half-blood brother or sister, a biological or adoptive parent, or a child.

“The proposed bereavement leave of 7 days is excellent, but I believe they would be more humane if they prolong it to at least 15 days and a maximum of one month,” Amando said. He said that Congress should step on it since death is unavoidable.

“If you wanted to mourn and chose to skip work for days, there are consequences, one of which is that you will not be compensated for the days you were absent,” Amando said. “Probably, nobody would ever do it, particularly since prices have climbed due to inflation.”

The 19th Congress has eight pending measures with similar proposals.

The 17th Congress had seven followed by the 18th Congress with five.