Manila: As the country commemorates National Women's Month, Solid North Party-list Rep. Ching Bernos and Abra lone district Rep. JB Bernos have urged the passage of a bill aimed at institutionalizing return-to-work programs for women following childbirth or care-related career breaks.
According to Philippines News Agency, Bill 6520, known as the Women Back-to-Work bill, has been filed in the House of Representatives. This bill proposes the creation of a national return-to-work framework and a returnship program to support women who wish to re-enter the workforce after taking time off to give birth or care for their families.
Rep. Ching Bernos highlighted the ongoing challenges women face in securing employment after career breaks, as employers often perceive these gaps as indicators of reduced competence or commitment, leading to prolonged unemployment and income loss.
The proposed national framework aims to promote fair hiring practices for women with employment gaps, support re-skilling and mentorship initiatives, encourage public and private organizations to offer re-entry opportunities for women, and include awareness programs to counteract biases against employment gaps.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Civil Service Commission (CSC), and the Philippine Commission on Women, is tasked with developing this framework. The bill also requires DOLE to establish a returnship program to provide structured re-entry opportunities for returning women professionals.
Employers participating in the program may offer returnships lasting six months to a year, combining paid employment with mentorship and re-skilling. Participants who complete these programs would receive certification to acknowledge their updated qualifications and readiness for re-employment.
Employers implementing accredited returnship programs or hiring returning women professionals would be eligible for incentives such as tax deductions for training expenses, wage subsidies for returnees, and public recognition as 'Return-Friendly Employers.'
Both government and private companies with over 100 employees would be encouraged to adopt career gap-neutral hiring policies, focusing on competence and skills during employment applications and interviews rather than penalizing caregiving or maternity leave gaps.
The CSC would issue guidelines for these policies in the public sector, while DOLE and DTI would develop model templates and best practices for the private sector.
Additionally, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, in partnership with DOLE and accredited training institutions, would design re-skilling, digital literacy, and professional certification programs for returning women. These programs would be linked with Public Employment Service Offices and industry associations to ensure job placement upon completion.
Rep. JB Bernos expressed optimism about the bill's passage, emphasizing its potential to address discriminative practices against women. He stated that women should not be penalized for their desire to support their families.
