A legislative push to modernize the Philippines’ decades-old labor regulations is gaining momentum as Parañaque City 2nd District Representative Brian Yamsuan filed House Bill No. 6602.
The proposed measure seeks to double the mandatory minimum annual paid leave for employees, moving the requirement from five days to 10 days to better support the well-being of the Filipino workforce.
The lawmaker emphasized that the current five-day Service Incentive Leave (SIL) provision in the Labor Code is a relic of the past, having remained unchanged for over half a century.
Yamsuan argued that the statutory minimum no longer meets the psychological and physical demands of the contemporary professional landscape.
“Our proposed measure reaffirms our commitment to fostering humane working conditions and supporting our labor force,” Yamsuan said. “Ang nakatalaga sa ilalim ng kasalukuyang batas na 5 days paid leave ay hindi na angkop sa working conditions natin ngayon.”
According to the solon, the adjustment is a “win-win” for the economy. By allowing employees more time to rest, the bill aims to reduce instances of work-related stress and burnout, which in turn boosts long-term productivity and improves employee retention rates for businesses.
While many corporate entities and unionized workplaces offer generous leave packages, Yamsuan pointed out that those in smaller enterprises often have no choice but to settle for the bare legal minimum.
He also noted that the Philippines currently trails behind its neighbors in the ASEAN region regarding labor benefits.
“We urge our colleagues to swiftly act on our measure and similar other bills when Congress resumes session on Monday as a belated, but fitting gift for our workers this coming Labor Day,” he added.
Data cited in the measure shows that while the Philippines mandates only five days, countries like Vietnam and Cambodia grant more than 10 days, and Japan scales its leave credits up to 20 days based on tenure.
Yamsuan remains hopeful that the passage of the bill will finally align Philippine labor standards with international benchmarks for work-life balance.