The House of Representatives on Monday approved on third and final reading House Bill 7722, which expands the discriminating acts against women in the workplace.

Authored by Representatives Eric Go Yap, Rowena Niña Taduran and Jocelyn Tulfo of ACT-CIS Partylist and Edgar Aglipay of DIWA Partylist, the bill garnered 226 unanimous votes.

HB 7722 states that those who will commit the following acts of discrimination on the account of sex shall be punished accordingly:

• Favoring a male employee over a female employee with respect to assignment, promotion, training opportunities, study, and scholarship grants, solely on account of their sex or characteristics, whether actual or presumed;

• Favoring a male employee over a female employee with respect to the dismissal of personnel or the application of any retrenchment policy of the employer solely on account of their sex or characteristics, whether actual or presumed; and

• Denying any woman the benefits of employment or other statutory benefits under our laws by reason of sex.

Additionally, employees who will be caught violating the measure shall face a corresponding sanction as well.

Employees or employers who will attempt or violate HB 7722 shall face imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than two years and shall be fined not less than ₱50,000 but not more than ₱200,000.