Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid filed a measure seeking to grant up to 28 days of paid leave for employees mandated to undergo quarantine due to exposure to highly contagious diseases and dangerous chemicals.
Under Senate Bill 2404 or the proposed “Paid Quarantine Leave Benefit Act,” employees will be entitled to the paid leave equivalent to his or her daily wage rate during the entire period of quarantine.
The measure will not have any impact on the existing sick leave, hazard pay, and other benefits given to employees, those granted under a collective bargaining agreement, or present laws.
The measure provides that the Social Security System (SSS) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) will reimburse employers for the payment of the quarantine leaves.
The employer, however, will shoulder the payment of the quarantine leave benefit should the employee be found to have been exposed as a result of the firm’s negligence.
Should the measure be passed into law, firms that refuse to implement the quarantine leave benefit will be fined at least P30,000.00 and a maximum of P200,000.00.
Latest government data indicate that there were 3.07 million unemployed Filipinos in July, reflecting an unemployment rate of 6.9%.
In comparison, there were 3.73 million jobless in June, when the unemployment rate was 7.7%. — DVM, GMA News
Senator wants 28-day paid quarantine leave benefits
Source: Pinoy Hub News
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