10-day bereavement leave proposed

Deputy Speaker Mylene Garcia-Albano has proposed a 10-day paid leave of absence to allow a worker to mourn the death of a family member.

House Bill 4071 proposes a bereavement leave for a worker who has lost a spouse, a parent, a child or a sibling.

Garcia Albano noted that Filipinos are known to be family-centered and stick together , especially “in the event of death of an immediate family member.”

“It is quite ironic, however, that while vacation leaves are granted on top of the other leave benefits such as paternity and maternity and sick leaves, no leave is granted as a matter of right on the part of employees in the event of death of an immediate family member,” the Davao City congresswoman said.

She lamented that workers are forced to incur unpaid absences to mourn a family tragedy yet it is during these times that they need both moral and financial support.

“”It is believed that the approval of this measure will boost the morale of the working force and ultimately, enhance their efficiency and productivity,” said Garcia-Albano.

Employers usually allow paid leave of absence for mourning employees provided that the days of absence will be deducted from the allowable vacation leave.

HB 4071 seeks full compensation to a mourning worker provided that it may only be used not more than three times during the duration of the employment under the same employer.

Proposed penalties for violators include a fine of not more than 150,000 and imprisonment of 30 days to six months, or both.

If the violation is committed by a corporation, partnership, association, firm or similar entities, the officer directly responsible for the violation faces imprisonment.