Independent Senator José A. “Chaco” Vargas Vidot filed Senate Law 155 to extend the period of maternity leave and create paternity leave in the private sector. Likewise, when it became law, the measure would recognize surrogacy leave in both the public and private sectors. It would also extend the period of paternity leave for employees of the government of Puerto Rico.
According to the project, women working in the public sector in Puerto Rico enjoy maternity leave of up to 12 weeks. However, private sector workers face a disadvantage and inequality, as the period of maternity leave is shorter than that of public sector workers. In this way, the project proposes to extend the period of maternity leave for women working in private companies to a maximum of 12 weeks. This will promote equal rights for all working women on the island.
Likewise, a surrogate maternity leave would be recognized, maternity recognized in the new civil code, and presented as a scientific alternative to maternity in several cases. Surrogacy has grown in recent years, so it is imperative to give women who choose this option the same rights as those who give birth or adopt.
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According to the independent senator, patriarchal views in Puerto Rico have long held that women are subject to their male partners, causing gender inequality in multiple contexts. Consequently, the care of sons and daughters has fallen almost exclusively in the hands of mothers. Not only does this encourage discrimination, but it also makes healthy parenting relationships difficult. Therefore, the project extends paternity leave to six (6) weeks for private employees.
Currently, the law provides public employees with paternity leave, which lasts 15 working days. This legislation creates paternity leave for employees of the private company and extends the period for government employees by 6 weeks to create equal conditions for all employees on the island.
One of the aims of this forward-thinking project is to break with macho paradigms that have settled in Puerto Rico and spread to the detriment of Puerto Rican women, and even men. We need to move towards an equality gift and we can continue the fight in the workplace, ”said Senator Vargas Vidot.