REVILLA WANTS ADDITIONAL PROTECTION OF WOMEN WORKERS

In observance of the International Women's Day, Senator Bong Revilla today pushes anew his bill that seeks to expand the prohibited acts of discrimination against women workers.

The senator pointed out that while Section 14, Article 2 of the Constitution obliges the government to recognize the role of women in nation-building and to ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women and men, enabling legislation to fully carry out this mandate is lacking.

"Discrimination against women generally still exists in the ordinary workplace. Filipino women continue to suffer indignities in the course of their employment, merely because they are women," he said.

Under Revilla's Senate Bill no. 802, Section 135 of the Labor Code will be amended to include the following as a discrimination act against women:

a). Giving preference to a male employee over a female employee in the hiring process, whether through notices, announcements or advertisements for employment and apprenticeship or in the actual recruitment, hiring or employment of workers where the particular job can be equally handled by a woman.

b). Favoring a male employee over a female employee with respect to dismissal of personnel or the application of the first in first out or other retrenchment policy of their employer.

"It also prohibits the denial to any women the benefits of employment or other statutory benefits under our laws by reason of her sex," Revilla added.

The lawmaker stressed that there is an urgent need to amend the Labor Code to provide full protection to women workers.

He cited reports that said workers recently laid off or facing layoff in four electronic companies at the Cavite Economic Zone in Rosario, Cavite were mostly women.

According to reports, Filipina workers are primarily affected by the global economic crisis since most of them work in electronic and garment industries, the country's top export to the US and Europe.

"We must not only recognize that women have an important role in nation building, but also realize that their position in society is eminent, integral and indispensable," Revilla explained.