Gabriela Women’s Party holds a demonstration in front of the Philippine Congress in Manila to press for an end to discrimination against women. The Philippine Congress has passed a new law that aims to end discrimination against women and ensure gender equality in the workplace.
Women's group Gabriela Women’s Party says the bill seeks to strengthen the anti-discriminatory provisions under present laws with provision for jail terms for the violators. “Favoring a male employee over a female employee with respect to assignment, promotion, employment benefits, training opportunities, study and scholarship grants solely on account of their sex or characteristics of their sex, whether actual or presumed, is also punishable under the bill,” Jeresano added.
Francia cited several Chinese-Filipina women who, because of their perseverance and handwork, built an empire. Fr Ryan Delos Santos from the Commission of Family Life of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said that the bill is meant to protect women not only in the upper echelon of Philippine society but ordinary women who rely on their monthly paycheck.