By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) Executive Director Frank Carbon over the weekend called the recently-signed Expanded Maternity Leave Act “an added problem to businesses.”

In a radio interview with Aksyon Radyo-Bacolod, Carbon said the new law is an “added burden” due to the additional labor costs and excessive holidays.

The business official said the new act could lower productivity in the private sector.

Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Expanded Maternity Leave Act into law, which grants additional leave benefits for mothers, such as 105 days of paid maternity leave credits with seven days transferable to fathers.

Under the previous law, women were entitled to 60 days of paid leave for normal delivery and 78 days for cesarean delivery./DGB, WDJ