FORMER Vice President and senatorial aspirant Jejomar C. Binay on Friday said working parents who are not able to report for work to care for their children at home should be entitled to additional paid leaves and government assistance.
“With schools closed, many working parents are unable to go to work because they need to look after their children. They should be given government aid and entitled to additional paid leaves. This should apply to private and government employees,” Binay said.
“Mental health break [for] students, ayuda [and] paid leave [for the] parents,” he added.
The former vice president said the pandemic is affecting the financial security and well being of families, as many parents or family members have either lost their jobs or have seen their earnings decline.
“Most families are cutting back on expenses for food, medicine, and essential needs. And not only working class families but also middle-class families,” he said.
“Hindi po lahat ng pamilya ay kayang bumili at magpa-deliver ng pagkain at groceries online. Hindi po lahat ng pamilya ay may savings na malaki. Kailangan nila ng tulong mula sa gobyerno hangga’t hindi pa nakakabangon ang ekonomya [Not all families can afford to buy online and have food and groceries delivered to them. They need government help until the economy has not yet recovered],” he added.
Binay said these benefits should be part of a comprehensive family care program for workers during the pandemic.
Earlier, the former Vice President proposed giving additional benefits to family members who are caring for their elderly parents.
Binay had said family caregivers should be given additional paid leaves, free medicine and hospital care for their loved ones, or reimbursement for out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Those who are unemployed should be given financial and other assistance, he added.