HB 1021 on “Women and Gender Education in the Workplace” requires all private employers to provide free annual seminars on women’s rights, welfare, development, gender equality, sexual harassment, and anti-trafficking in persons. This amends the Labor Code of the Philippines.
The Bill was approved by the Committee on Labor and Employment last April 20, 2005. Its progress and status has not changed since then. The Committee Report is in process while the signatures are being gathered for approval. We expect the Bill to move to Plenary if the Committee Report is finalized, submitted and approved by the Committee on Rules.
The danger of the Bill is that the requirement for “women’s education” may include sections on reproductive health, even if this is not specifically mentioned. This Bill forms part of the cultural reeducation that may occur if we are not vigilant against it.
Principal author of the Bill is Cong. Liza Maza (GABRIELA Party List). Co-Authors are Teddy Casino, Crispin Beltran, Joel Virador and Rafael Mariano.
HB 1023 is a companion Bill also filed July 1, 2004 and referred last July 28, 2004 to the Committee of Basic Education and Culture. It is also introduced by Cong. Liza Maza. HB 1023 requires all private and public schools to provide “education on women, girls and gender rights, equality and welfare, sexual harassment, and anti-trafficking in persons.”
It seems these efforts to integrate women’s rights and gender education into all schools and workplaces will complement the passage of House Bill (HB) 3773.
For a copy of these Bills, please see:
HB 1021: http://www.congress.gov.ph/download/billtext_13/HB01021.pdf
HB 1023: http://www.congress.gov.ph/download/billtext_13/HB01023.pdf
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