ACT Teachers Partylist has renewed its call for the passage of a law granting sick leave benefits to public school teachers, highlighting the unfair labor conditions they face.

Unlike other government employees, public school teachers in the Philippines do not have paid sick leave, forcing them to either use service credits or face salary deductions when they fall ill.

According to ACT Teachers, when teachers are absent due to illness, they must compensate for lost work by rendering additional service in advance.

If they accumulate more than three unexcused absences within a year without service credits, they face further salary deductions during their summer break.

The group argues that this policy disregards the demanding nature of the teaching profession and treats educators unfairly compared to other public servants.

Teachers endure long hours, balancing classroom duties during the day and paperwork at night. They teach in overcrowded and poorly ventilated classrooms, speak for hours, and often strain their voices.

Despite these challenges, they are expected to continue working without proper sick leave benefits, as if they are immune to illness, the party-list group pointed out.

ACT Teachers Partylist is urging Congress to act immediately on their proposal, emphasizing that granting sick leave is a fundamental right for all workers, including teachers.

They argue that recognizing this right would not only protect teachers’ well-being but also improve the quality of education by ensuring educators are healthy and capable of performing their duties effectively.

Party-list Representative France Castro, who is also running for senator, has vowed to continue pushing for this reform in the legislature.

“Teachers are not superheroes. They deserve the right to rest and recover from illness without worrying about salary deductions,” the group stated.