Solon says Pinoy workers stressed out, calls for more paid leaves
At A Glance
- 1Tahanan Party-list Rep. Nathaniel Oducado has filed a measure seeking additional paid leaves for Filipino workers, following reports of worsening stress among professionals and declining productivity due to lack of work-life balance.
1Tahanan Party-list Rep. Nat Oducado (Facebook)
1Tahanan Party-list Rep. Nathaniel Oducado has filed a measure seeking additional paid leaves for Filipino workers, following reports of worsening stress among professionals and declining productivity due to lack of work-life balance.
Oducado filed for this purpose in the current 20th Congress House Bill (HB) No.8741, or the proposed Service Incentive Leave Act of 2026.
It seeks to increase the annual service incentive leave (SIL) from five paid leave days to 10 leave days for employees who have worked for at least one year.
“Marami sa mga manggagawa ngayon ang sobra ang trabaho at kulang sa pahinga, kaya naaapektuhan ang kanilang kalusugan, trabaho, at oras para sa pamilya (Many workers today are overworked and under-rested, affecting their health, jobs, and time for family)," Oducado said in justifying the measure.
According to a Department of Labor and Employment-Institute for Labor Studies (DOLE-ILS) study, 72 percent of Filipino workers experience stress, with levels remaining high in recent years.
Oducado interpreted this data as proof that many employees were exhausted and lacking rest.
“Sa panukalang ito, masisiguro na may sapat na oras ang mga manggagawa para magpahinga at maalagaan ang kanilang sarili at pamilya (With this proposal, workers will have enough time to rest and care for themselves and their families)," the neophyte congressman added.
The bill also allows only up to five unused leave days to be converted into cash. Exemptions remain for companies already providing equal or better benefits, and for small or financially constrained businesses.
“Ito ay praktikal at makataong solusyon na sumusuporta sa mga manggagawa nang hindi masyadong nagpapabigat sa mga employers (This is a practical and humane solution that supports workers without placing too heavy a burden on employers),” Oducado pointed out.
Oducado is a vice chairperson of the Committees on Climate Change, on Housing and Urban Development, and on National Defense and Security.