Unilever PHL gives workers 120 days paid maternity leave

UNILEVER PHILIPPINES has issued a new company policy granting its employees a minimum of 120 days of paid maternity leave, in line with the consumer goods giant’s new Global Maternal Wellbeing Standards.

The company said in a statement on Tuesday that the initiative is part of its worldwide comprehensive program for the expansion of benefits to working women and families.

Under its Global Maternal Wellbeing Standards, single mothers may avail of up to 150 days of maternal leave, while women adopting children below 12 months of age are entitled to 120 days of adoption leave.

The length of Unilever’s allowed maternity leave follows Senate Bill 1305, or the Expanded Maternity Leave Law of 2017, as well as House Bill No. 4113, both pending in Congress, which seek to extend maternity leave to 120 days and 100 days, respectively.

Under existing laws, women are only allowed 60 days of paid maternity leave, and 78 days for those who underwent Caesarian deliveries.

“We are proud to be one of the few companies in the Philippines raising the standards to support working mothers and their families. Part of the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan is improving the health and well-being of our people, and this policy is part of how we are putting that into practice,” Unilever Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Benjie Yap said in a statement.

Other than the policy, Unilever’s offices also have breastfeeding, lactation facilities, and day care facilities. Flexible work options, which include part- time agile work or job sharing, further allows mothers more time with their newborn babies.

“We understand the need for mothers to be with their newborn children, so we are introducing innovative schemes for mothers returning to work, such as parttime agile work or job sharing, depending on their roles in the company,” Mr. Yap added. —