Solo Parent Leave

Someone in the neighborhood asked me about the solo parent leave. He was also discussing about other statutory leaves provided as employee rights like vacation leave, sick leave, and the battered woman leave. However, what concerns him most is the solo parent leave and the battered woman leave. The last issue will be featured in my next post.

Based on the explanation given for the implementation of the labor laws, a recent addition  to the list of paid leaves given by law is the parental leave which is also called as the solo parent leave. This name was given because of the enactment of the Solo Parent's Welfare Act of 2000- R. A. No. 8972. This act took effect last November 28, 2000. Section 8 of this act provides that:

"In addition to leave privileges under existing laws, parental leave of not more than 7 working days per year shall be given to any solo parent employee who has rendered  service of at least one year".

This means that the solo parent leave is in addition to the legally required leaves such as the service incentive leave, the SSS sick leave, the SSS maternity leave and the paternity leave. The solo parent leave is beneficial to a woman who gives birth as a result of rape or crimes against chastity, a widow or a widower, a spouse separated legally or separation in fact for at least one year, and so on. The requirements for claiming this right include showing that he or she is left alone with the responsibility of parenthood and also showing to the employer a solo parent identification card duly issued by an authorized representative of the Department of Social and Development.