Hontiveros defends expanded maternity leave

Contrary to the fears of an employers' group, the proposal to expand paid maternity leave will benefit companies, Senator Risa Hontiveros said Sunday. 
 
The Employers' Confederation of the Philippines earlier warned that extending paid maternity leave to 105 days from the current 60 days will push companies to hire men over women. 

• Expanded maternity leave to hurt women's chance of getting hired: businessman

Hontiveros, however, said this will give women more time to recover from pregnancy and childbirth, and allow their newborns to enjoy the health benefits of exclusive birth feeding. 

With both the mother and her baby healthy, women will be less likely to take leaves from work, making them more productive, the senator told ANC. 

The Senate and the House of Representatives have both ratified the expanded maternity leave bill, paving the way for President Rodrigo Duterte to sign it into law.

ANC, 14 October 2018