Angara says hiring of more women in the workplace a good investment for companies
Published Mar 8, 2019 12:32 pm
By Hannah Torregoza
Reelectionist Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara on Friday told private companies not to worry about hiring more female employees due to approval into law of the measure extending the paid maternity leave of women workers.
Senator Juan Edgardo ‘’Sonny’’ M. Angara
(FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN) Angara said hiring more women in the workplace was a good investment, citing the strength of women workers as good for business and the benefit of achieving gender equality in the workplace. “It’s the choice employers have to make, but at the end of the day they will lose out on the significant benefits from hiring women,” Angara said. Female workers, the senator noted, were more “detail-oriented and conscientious” as opposed to their male counterparts. “Doon sila magkakamali kung sakaling magkaroon sila ng bias against women (They are mistaken if they ever have this bias against women),” Angara added. Duterte earlier signed Republic Act 11210 which granted all working mothers in the government and private sector with 105 days of paid maternity leave credits, with seven days transferable to the fathers. An additional 15 days of paid leave will be granted to single mothers. Under the previous law, women workers were entitled to only 60 days of paid leave for normal delivery and 78 days for caesarean delivery. However, some employers viewed the law negatively amid fears on the possible increase in cost they may incur as a result of the new policy. It also raised fresh concerns about the potential discrimination of women in hiring. But Angara, co-author of the law, said he believed it was not fair for companies to give preference to a male applicant even if his female counterpart was more qualified for the job. “Just because they want to avoid the cost of maternity leave benefit. That’s discrimination.” Citing a study by the International Finance Corp., Angara said that bringing in more female into the workplace helped promote women’s rights which was good business practice. “The study showed that women improve productivity, adapt better to change and comprise a more stable work force,” Angara pointed out. The senator also said a separate study by McKinsey Global Institute had showed that investing in initiatives that support women in the workplace was a “win-win” situation as both employers and employees obtained real benefits. Also based on the McKinsey study, at least one-third of the companies that invested in these programs in emerging and developing countries improved their benefits and 38 percent expect earnings. The lawmaker said he strongly believed that paid maternity leave could be a critical factor in women’s empowerment by enabling mothers to support themselves while raising their children. “The 150-day Extended Maternity Leave Law empowers not just mothers, but also their children as it gives utmost priority to their health,” Angara pointed out. “For with a longer maternity leave period, we give our mothers adequate time and opportunity to ensure the proper nutrition, nourishment and nurturing of their children—especially when they themselves are going through the process of recuperation,” the lawmaker stressed.
Senator Juan Edgardo ‘’Sonny’’ M. Angara(FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN) Angara said hiring more women in the workplace was a good investment, citing the strength of women workers as good for business and the benefit of achieving gender equality in the workplace. “It’s the choice employers have to make, but at the end of the day they will lose out on the significant benefits from hiring women,” Angara said. Female workers, the senator noted, were more “detail-oriented and conscientious” as opposed to their male counterparts. “Doon sila magkakamali kung sakaling magkaroon sila ng bias against women (They are mistaken if they ever have this bias against women),” Angara added. Duterte earlier signed Republic Act 11210 which granted all working mothers in the government and private sector with 105 days of paid maternity leave credits, with seven days transferable to the fathers. An additional 15 days of paid leave will be granted to single mothers. Under the previous law, women workers were entitled to only 60 days of paid leave for normal delivery and 78 days for caesarean delivery. However, some employers viewed the law negatively amid fears on the possible increase in cost they may incur as a result of the new policy. It also raised fresh concerns about the potential discrimination of women in hiring. But Angara, co-author of the law, said he believed it was not fair for companies to give preference to a male applicant even if his female counterpart was more qualified for the job. “Just because they want to avoid the cost of maternity leave benefit. That’s discrimination.” Citing a study by the International Finance Corp., Angara said that bringing in more female into the workplace helped promote women’s rights which was good business practice. “The study showed that women improve productivity, adapt better to change and comprise a more stable work force,” Angara pointed out. The senator also said a separate study by McKinsey Global Institute had showed that investing in initiatives that support women in the workplace was a “win-win” situation as both employers and employees obtained real benefits. Also based on the McKinsey study, at least one-third of the companies that invested in these programs in emerging and developing countries improved their benefits and 38 percent expect earnings. The lawmaker said he strongly believed that paid maternity leave could be a critical factor in women’s empowerment by enabling mothers to support themselves while raising their children. “The 150-day Extended Maternity Leave Law empowers not just mothers, but also their children as it gives utmost priority to their health,” Angara pointed out. “For with a longer maternity leave period, we give our mothers adequate time and opportunity to ensure the proper nutrition, nourishment and nurturing of their children—especially when they themselves are going through the process of recuperation,” the lawmaker stressed.