Female workers at a medicine factory in the Philippines (AFP FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Former Senator Panfilo 鈥淧ing鈥� Lacson on Sunday insisted that implementing a proposed law allowing on paid menstrual leaves would be counterproductive since employers might not be able to provide an additional 24 days of leave per year and may eventually result in layoffs and business closures.
Lacson earlier drew flak from his social media post where he stated: 鈥淢aternity leave, paternity leave聽 and now, menstrual leave 鈥� all with pay. Next time, a legislative measure will be filed mandating menopause and andropause allowances to increase the testosterone levels of workers.鈥�
Lacson said the economic implications of menstrual leaves may end up in layoffs and even closure of some factories.
鈥淲hat the proponents of the two-day-a-month menstrual-leave-with-pay measure and the ordinary working woman in this country may not realize is the impact of an additional 24 days a year of leave with pay on top of the 105 days of maternity leave, 7 days of paternity leave, 5 days of sick leave, including the 13-18 days of vacation leave every year (convertible to cash if unused) which could lead to layoffs or even the closing of some factories that may not have the wherewithal to cope with the burden of complying with all these privileges,鈥� he pointed out.
He added that passing such measures may also discourage long-term investments by prospective employers.
鈥淚t is good to be perceived as pro labor, especially among the 49 percent women population, but we should also take into consideration the long term effect on the country鈥檚 investment climate in particular and the economy in general,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e should look at the forest, not the trees,鈥� he said.
Gabriela Women鈥檚 party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas on Wednesday filed a measure that would allow women to take a paid two-day 鈥渕enstrual leave鈥� per month.
Despite Lacson鈥檚 claims, some countries globally have already successfully passed a similar measure 鈥撀� Spain, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Zambia.
Meanwhile, netizens have not taken Lacson鈥檚 tweet lightly.
Some pointed out the timing of Lacson鈥檚 posts which came during the celebration of Women鈥檚 Month.
Many also countered Lacson by sharing their struggles and experiences on menstruation, pointing out that politicians who are against improving labor conditions do not deserve a position in public service.
鈥淲ow, anti-employee and anti-women sir pick a struggle,鈥� one user wrote.