MANILA, Philippines – A lawmaker is pushing for a 30-day sick leave benefit to be granted to public school teachers.
ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro filed House Bill 5349 in Congress, seeking to grant public school teachers sick leave to at least 30 days. Under the current rules and regulations, public school teachers are only given service credits and the Proportional Vacation Pay (PVP).
Castro explained, "Public school teachers have long been complaining of not being afforded sick leave benefits within the school year because they are allegedly already covered by the leave benefits granted to those on ‘teachers leave basis’ or the service credits and the Proportional Vacation Pay."
READ: LIST: DepEd teachers' benefits
The lawmaker explained that sick leaves have a different nature and purpose than service credits, which are considered " compensation for work done by the teacher beyond regular functions or regular work or days such as the Brigada Eskwela, election and census service."
She added that due to the heavy workload, it would not be impossible that the teachers would encounter health problems.
"Public school teachers deserve sick leave benefits, especially in light of the heavy workload which they are made to bear, including various tasks not related to teaching,” Castro said.
According to the teachers group' representative, the current rules of sick leaves forces teachers to simply endure their health concerns or else face deductions.
Castro said, "It is as if public school teachers can choose to only get sick during the summer breaks and are expected to simply ‘bear it’ during the school year. Moreover, teachers suffer deductions in their salaries if they choose to absent themselves from class."
Co-sponsors of the bill are representatives from the Makabayan bloc, Rep. Carlos Zarate, Rep. Ferdie Gaite and Rep. Eufemia Cullamat of Bayan Muna Party-list, Rep. Arlene Brosas of Gabriela Women’s Party and Rep. Sarah Elago of the Kabataan Party-list.
— Sally, The Summit Express
ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro filed House Bill 5349 in Congress, seeking to grant public school teachers sick leave to at least 30 days. Under the current rules and regulations, public school teachers are only given service credits and the Proportional Vacation Pay (PVP).
Castro explained, "Public school teachers have long been complaining of not being afforded sick leave benefits within the school year because they are allegedly already covered by the leave benefits granted to those on ‘teachers leave basis’ or the service credits and the Proportional Vacation Pay."
READ: LIST: DepEd teachers' benefits
The lawmaker explained that sick leaves have a different nature and purpose than service credits, which are considered " compensation for work done by the teacher beyond regular functions or regular work or days such as the Brigada Eskwela, election and census service."
She added that due to the heavy workload, it would not be impossible that the teachers would encounter health problems.
"Public school teachers deserve sick leave benefits, especially in light of the heavy workload which they are made to bear, including various tasks not related to teaching,” Castro said.
According to the teachers group' representative, the current rules of sick leaves forces teachers to simply endure their health concerns or else face deductions.
Castro said, "It is as if public school teachers can choose to only get sick during the summer breaks and are expected to simply ‘bear it’ during the school year. Moreover, teachers suffer deductions in their salaries if they choose to absent themselves from class."
 |
| House Bill 5349, An Act Providing Sick Leave Benefits of Thirty Days per year for Public School Teachers. |
Co-sponsors of the bill are representatives from the Makabayan bloc, Rep. Carlos Zarate, Rep. Ferdie Gaite and Rep. Eufemia Cullamat of Bayan Muna Party-list, Rep. Arlene Brosas of Gabriela Women’s Party and Rep. Sarah Elago of the Kabataan Party-list.
— Sally, The Summit Express
