Teacher solon files bill providing public school teachers sick leave benefits

Teacher solon files bill providing public school teachers sick leave benefits – Act Teachers Party-List

Assistant minority leader and ACT Teachers Representative France Castro filed HB 5349, An Act Providing Sick Leave Benefits of Thirty Days per year for Public School Teachers, saying that at present, public school teachers are not given sick leave benefits because current rules and regulations do not afford them this leave privilege.

“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,’ namely, service credits and the Proportional Vacation Pay (PVP),” Castro said. “However, service credits are compensation for work done by the teacher beyond regular functions or regular work or days, such as Brigada Eskwela, election and census service.”

“It’s about time that our laws be amended to provide our public school teachers protection against health complications, especially considering that most of such conditions are the effects of the daily strain of teachers’ tasks in schools and overwork,” Castro added. “With the current laws, rules and regulations, 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.”

“Service credits and the Proportional Vacation Pay have different nature and purpose compared to sick leave. House Bill 5349 provides public school teachers sick leave benefits of thirty days per year,” Castro stated. “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.”

The bill is also co-sponsored by the five other Makabayan representatives namely 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 Kabataan Parry-list

“We urge the House Leadership to urgently hear and pass the bill providing sick leave benefits for public school teachers. Government already fails to provide budget for the annual medical check up for public school teachers, Congress should prioritize and provide public school teachers their much deserved benefits,” Castro ended.