indispensable to the national interest, the Secretary

of Labor and Employment may assume jurisdiction

over the dispute and decide it or certify the same to the
Commission for compulsory arbitration. Such assumption or
certification shall have the effect of automatically enjoining
the intended or impending strike or lockout as specified in
the assumption or certification order. If one has already
taken place at the time of assumption or certification, all
striking or locked out employees shall immediately return to
work and the employer shall immediately resume operations
and readmit all workers under the same terms and
conditions prevailing before the strike or lockout. x x x

LABOR STANDARDS
LABOR STANDARDS sets out the minimum terms, conditions, and
benefits of employment that employers must provide or comply with
and to which employees are entitled as a matter of legal right.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Art. 3. Declaration of basic policy.
The State shall afford protection to labor, promote full employment,
ensure equal work opportunities regardless of sex, race or creed and
regulate the relations between workers and employers. (A-P-E-R)

Purpose: To curb the exacerbation of a labor dispute to the

further detriment of the national interest. Hence, any act
committed during the pendency of the dispute that tends to
give rise to further contentious issues or increase the
tensions between the parties should be considered an act of
exacerbation and should not be allowed.

The State shall assure the rights of workers to self-organization,

collective bargaining, security of tenure, and just and humane
conditions of work. (S-C-S-J)
Article 3 hardly mentions the employer. But is should not be deduced
that the basic policy is to favour labor to prejudice capital. The better
understanding is that the basic policy is to balance and coordinate the
rights and interests of both workers and employers.

The phrase "under the same terms and conditions" makes it

clear that the norm is actual reinstatement.
Exception: Payroll reinstatement must rest on
special circumstances
that render
actual
reinstatement impracticable or otherwise not
conducive to attaining the purposes of the law.

1987 Constitution
Article II, Section 18. The State affirms labor as a primary social
economic force. It shall protect the rights of workers and promote their
welfare.
Article XIII, Section 3. The State shall afford full protection to labor,
local and overseas, organized and unorganized, and promote full
employment and equality of employment opportunities for all.
SEVEN BASIC RIGHTS OF WORKERS GUARANTEED BY THE
CONSTITUTION:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)

Right to organize
To conduct collective bargaining or negotiation with
management
To engage in peaceful concerted activities, including strike
in accordance with law
To enjoy security of tenure
To work under humane conditions
To receive a living wage
To participate in policy and decision-making processes
affecting their rights and benefits as may be provided by
law.

Rights of Employer:
1)
2)
3)
4)

Right
Right
Right
Right

to
to
to
to

Return of Investments
prescribe rules
select employees
transfer or discharge employees

DISMISSAL: Dismissal connotes a permanent severance or complete

separation of the worker from the service on the initiative of the
employer regardless of the reasons therefor (Industrial & Transport
Equipment v Tugade).
The State encourages an environment wherein employers and
employees themselves must deal with their problems in a manner that
mutually suits them best. Hence, a voluntary, instead of
compulsory, mode of dispute settlement is the general rule.
(Manila Diamond v CA)
Exception: Article 263, paragraph (g) of the Labor Code:
When, in his opinion, there exists a labor dispute causing or
likely to cause a strike or lockout in an industry

The Court declared that it recognizes the exercise of management

prerogatives and it often declines to interfere with the legitimate
business decisions of the employer. However, this privilege is
not absolute, but subject to exceptions. One of these exceptions is
when the Secretary of Labor assumes jurisdiction over labor disputes
involving industries indispensable to the national interest under Article
263(g) of the Labor Code (UIC v Secretary of Labor).
MANAGEMENT RIGHTS / PREROGATIVE except as limited by
special laws, an employer is free to regulate, according to his own
discretion and judgment, all aspects of employment, including hiring,
work assignments, working methods, time, place and manner of work,
tools to be used, processes to be followed, supervision of workers,
working regulations, transfer of employees, work supervision, lay-off of
workers and the discipline, dismissal and recall of workers.
Limitations:
1)
2)
3)

Law
Contract or Collective Bargaining Agreement
General principles of fair play and justice

Art. 4. Construction in favor of labor. All doubts in the

implementation and interpretation of the provisions of this Code,
including its implementing rules and regulations, shall be resolved in
favor of labor.
RATIONALE: In employment bargaining, the employer stands on
higher footing than the employee. (1) There is greater supply than
demand for labor. (2) The need for employment by labor comes from
vital and even desperate necessity.
If there is no doubt in implementing and interpreting the law, labor will
enjoy no built-in advantage and the law will have to be applied as it is.
Any benefit and supplement being enjoyed by employees cannot be
reduced, diminished, discontinued or eliminated by the employer. x x x
Jurisprudence has not laid down any rule specifying a minimum
number of years within which a company practice must be exercised in
order to constitute voluntary company practice (Arco Metal v
Samahan).

Page 1 of 26

The claim of overseas workers against foreign employers

could not be subjected to same rules of evidence and
procedure easily obtained by complainants whose employers are
locally based. While normally we would require the presentation of
payrolls, daily time records and similar documents before allowing
claims for overtime pay, in this case, that would be requiring the nearimpossible (Acuna v CA).

To insure careful selection of Filipino workers for overseas employment

in order to protect the good name of the Philippines abroad.
Title I
RECRUITMENT AND PLACEMENT OF WORKERS
Chapter I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Art. 6. Applicability. All rights and benefits granted to workers under

this Code shall, except as may otherwise be provided herein, apply
alike to all workers, whether agricultural or non-agricultural.

Art. 13. Definitions.

Labor Code is not applicable to government agencies.

"Worker" means any member of the labor force, whether employed or

unemployed.

Labor code may apply even if the parties are not employers and
employees of each other, except for employment benefits.
Water districts are quasi-public corporations whose
employees belong to the civil service, hence, the dismissal of
those employees shall be governed by the civil service law, rules and
regulations (Tanjay Water District v Gabaton).
Having been created under the general corporation law instead of a
special charter, we hold that the respondent is a private and not a
governmental corporation. Petitioners are employees in the private
sector, hence entitled to the benefits of Rep. Act No. 7641 (Postigo v
Philippine TB Society).
Where the claim to the principal relief sought is to be resolved
not by reference to the Labor Code or other labor relations statute or a
collective bargaining agreement but by the general civil law, the
jurisdiction over the dispute belongs to the regular courts of
justice and not to the Labor Arbiter and the NLRC (San Miguel v
NLRC).
A corporate officers dismissal is always a corporate act, or an intracorporate controversy which arises between a stockholder and a
corporation. Given Locsins status as a corporate officer, the RTC, not
the Labor Arbiter or the NLRC, has jurisdiction to hear the legality of
the termination of his relationship with Nissan (Locsin v Nissan
Lease).
PRE-EMPLOYMENT
Art. 12. Statement of objectives. It is the policy of the State:
(P-P-F-R-S-I-)
To promote and maintain a state of full employment through improved
manpower training, allocation and utilization;
To protect every citizen desiring to work locally or overseas by
securing for him the best possible terms and conditions of
employment;
To facilitate a free choice of available employment by persons seeking
work in conformity with the national interest;
To facilitate and regulate the movement of workers in conformity with
the national interest;
To regulate the employment of aliens, including the establishment of a
registration and/or work permit system;
To strengthen the network of public employment offices and
rationalize the participation of the private sector in the recruitment and
placement of workers, locally and overseas, to serve national
development objectives;

"Recruitment and placement" refers to any act of canvassing,

enlisting, contracting, transporting, utilizing, hiring or procuring
workers (C-E-C-T-U-H-P), and includes referrals, contract services,
promising or advertising (R-C-P-A) for employment, locally or abroad,
whether for profit or not: Provided, That any person or entity which, in
any manner, offers or promises for a fee, employment to two or
more persons shall be deemed engaged in recruitment and
placement.
The proviso merely creates a presumption. The number of persons
dealt with is not an essential ingredient of the act of recruitment and
placement of workers. Any of the acts mentioned in Article 13 (b) will
constitute recruitment and placement even if only one prospective
worker is involved (People v Panis).
To prove that the accused was engaged in recruitment activities, it
must be shown that the accused gave the complainant the distinct
impression that she had the power or ability to send the complainant
for work, such that the latter convinced to part with her money in
order to be so employed. Where such act or representation is not
proven, there is no recruitment activity and conviction for illegal
recruitment has no basis (People v Goce).
The act of referral, which is included in recruitment, is "the act
of passing along or forwarding of an applicant for employment after an
initial interview of a selected applicant for employment to a selected
employer, placement officer or bureau (Rodolfo v People).
"Private fee-charging employment agency" means any person or entity
engaged in recruitment and placement of workers for a fee which is
charged, directly or indirectly, from the workers or employers or both.
"License" means a document issued by the Department of Labor
authorizing a person or entity to operate a private employment
agency.
"Private recruitment entity" means any person or association engaged
in the recruitment and placement of workers, locally or overseas,
without charging, directly or indirectly, any fee from the workers or
employers.
"Authority" means a document issued by the Department of Labor
authorizing a person or association to engage in recruitment and
placement activities as a private recruitment entity.
"Seaman" means any person employed in a vessel engaged in
maritime navigation.
"Overseas employment" means employment of a worker outside the
Philippines.
"Emigrant" means any person, worker or otherwise, who emigrates to
a foreign country by virtue of an immigrant visa or resident permit or
its equivalent in the country of destination.

Page 2 of 26

Art. 14. Employment promotion. The Secretary of Labor shall have

the power and authority: (O-J-Mr-I)
To organize and establish new employment offices in addition to the
existing employment offices under the Department of Labor as the
need arises;
To organize and establish a nationwide job clearance and information
system to inform applicants registering with a particular employment
office of job opportunities in other parts of the country as well as job
opportunities abroad;
To develop and organize a program that will facilitate occupational,
industrial and geographical mobility of labor and provide assistance in
the relocation of workers from one area to another; and
To require any person, establishment, organization or institution to
submit such employment information as may be prescribed by the
Secretary of Labor.
Effective allocation of manpower resources in local employment is
assigned to the Bureau of Local Employment and to POEA for overseas
employment.
Art. 16. Private recruitment. Except as provided in Chapter II of
this Title, no person or entity other than the public employment
offices, shall engage in the recruitment and placement of
workers.
Entities authorized to engage in recruitment and Placement:
(4P SCDO)
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)

Public employment offices

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA)
Private recruitment entities
Private employment agencies
Shipping or manning agents or representatives
Construction contractors if authorized to operate by DOLE
and the Construction Industry Authority (CIA)
Members of the diplomatic corps although hirings done by
them to be processed through the POEA
Such other persons or entities as may be authorized by the
DOLE Secretary

Art. 25. Private sector participation in the recruitment and

placement of workers. Pursuant to national development objectives
and in order to harness and maximize the use of private sector
resources and initiative in the development and implementation of a
comprehensive employment program, the private employment sector
shall participate in the recruitment and placement of workers, locally
and overseas, under such guidelines, rules and regulations as may be
issued by the Secretary of Labor.

Art. 17. Overseas Employment Development Board. An

Overseas Employment Development Board is hereby created to
undertake, in cooperation with relevant entities and agencies, a
systematic program for overseas employment of Filipino workers in
excess of domestic needs and to protect their rights to fair and
equitable employment practices. It shall have the power and duty:
(P-S-R-S)
To promote the overseas employment of Filipino workers through a
comprehensive market promotion and development program;
To secure the best possible terms and conditions of employment of
Filipino contract workers on a government-to-government basis and to
ensure compliance therewith;

To recruit and place workers for overseas employment on a

government-to-government arrangement and in such other sectors as
policy may dictate; and
To act as secretariat for the Board of Trustees of the Welfare and
Training Fund (WTF) for Overseas Workers.
STATE POLICY ON OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT
REPUBLIC ACT 8042 as amended by RA 10022
Section 2 (c) While recognizing the significant contribution of Filipino
migrant workers to the national economy through their foreign
exchange remittances, the State does not promote overseas
employment as a means to sustain economic growth and achieve
national development. The existence of the overseas employment
program rests solely on the assurance that the dignity and
fundamental human rights and freedoms of the Filipino citizens shall
not, at any time, be compromised or violated. The State, therefore,
shall continuously create local employment opportunities and promote
the equitable distribution of wealth and the benefits of development.
SELECTIVE DEPLOYMENT
SEC. 4. Deployment of Migrant Workers - The State shall deploy
overseas Filipino workers only in countries where the rights of Filipino
migrant workers are protected. The government recognizes any of the
following as guarantee on the part of the receiving country for the
protection and the rights of overseas Filipino workers: (LMBM)
(a) It has existing labor and social laws protecting the rights of
migrant workers;
"(a) It has existing labor and social laws protecting the rights of
workers, including migrant workers;
(b) It is a signatory to multilateral conventions, declaration or
resolutions relating to the protection of migrant workers;
"(b) It is a signatory to and/or a ratifier of multilateral conventions,
declarations or resolutions relating to the protection of workers,
including migrant workers; and
(c) It has concluded a bilateral agreement or arrangement with
the government protecting the rights of overseas Filipino workers; and
"(c) It has concluded a bilateral agreement or arrangement with the
government on the protection of the rights of overseas Filipino
Workers:
(d) It is taking positive, concrete measures to protect the rights of
migrant workers.
Provided, That the receiving country is taking positive, concrete
measures to protect the rights of migrant workers in furtherance of
any of the guarantees under subparagraphs (a), (b) and (c) hereof.
"In the absence of a clear showing that any of the aforementioned
guarantees exists in the country of destination of the migrant workers,
no permit for deployment shall be issued by the Philippine Overseas
Employment Administration (POEA).
"The members of the POEA Governing Board who actually voted in
favor of an order allowing the deployment of migrant workers without
any of the aforementioned guarantees shall suffer the penalties of
removal or dismissal from service with disqualification to hold any
appointive public office for five (5) years, Further, the government
official or employee responsible for the issuance of the permit or for
allowing the deployment of migrant workers in violation of this section
and in direct contravention of an order by the POEA Governing Board

Page 3 of 26

prohibiting deployment shall be meted the same penalties in this

section.
"For this purpose, the Department of Foreign Affairs, through its
foreign posts, shall issue a certification to the POEA, specifying therein
the pertinent provisions of the receiving country's labor/social law, or
the
convention/declaration/resolution,
or
the
bilateral
agreement/arrangement which protect the rights of migrant workers.
"The State shall also allow the deployment of overseas Filipino workers
to vessels navigating the foreign seas or to installations located
offshore or on high seas whose owners/employers are compliant with
international laws and standards that protect the rights of migrant
workers.
"The State shall likewise allow the deployment of overseas Filipino
workers to companies and contractors with international operations:
Provided, That they are compliant with standards, conditions and
requirements, as embodied in the employment contracts prescribed by
the POEA and in accordance with internationally-accepted standards."
SEC. 5. TERMINATION OR BAN ON DEPLOYMENT Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4 hereof, the government, in
pursuit of the national interest or when public welfare so requires,
may, at any time, terminate or impose a ban on the deployment of
migrant workers.
"SEC. 5. Termination or Ban on Deployment. - Notwithstanding the
provisions of Section 4 hereof, in pursuit of the national interest or
when public welfare so requires, the POEA Governing Board, after
consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs, may, at
any time, terminate or impose a ban on the deployment of migrant
workers."
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 247:
REORGANIZING THE PHILIPPINE OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT
ADMINISTRATION AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
JURISDICTION OF POEA BEFORE JULY 15, 1995 (Cee-D-P)
Sec. 3. Powers and Functions. - In the pursuit of its mandate, the
Administration shall have the following powers and functions: (d)
Exercise original and exclusive jurisdiction to hear and decide all
claims arising out of an employer-employee relationship or by
virtue of any law or contract involving Filipino workers for overseas
employment including the disciplinary cases;
and all pre-employment cases which are administrative in character
involving or arising out of violation or requirement laws, rules and
regulations including money claims arising therefrom, or
violation of the conditions for issuance of license or authority to recruit
workers.
Omnibus Rules and Regulations Implementing the Migrant
Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995
JURISDICTION OF POEA AFTER JULY 15, 1995 (ADS)
Section 28. Jurisdiction of the POEA
The POEA shall exercise original and exclusive jurisdiction to hear and
decide:
(a) all cases, which are administrative in character, involving or
arising out of violations of rules and regulations relating to licensing
and registration of recruitment and employment agencies or entities;
and

(b) disciplinary action cases and other special cases, which are
administrative in character, involving employers, principals, contracting
partners and Filipino migrant workers. (EPPW)
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8042
Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995
SEC. 10. MONEY CLAIMS. - Notwithstanding any provision of law to
the contrary, the Labor Arbiters of the National Labor Relations
Commission (NLRC) shall have the original and exclusive jurisdiction
to hear and decide, within ninety (90) calendar days after filing
of the complaint, the claims arising out of an employer-employee
relationship or by virtue of any law or contract involving Filipino
workers for overseas deployment including claims for actual,
moral, exemplary and other forms of damages.
The
liability
of
the
principal/employer
and
the
recruitment/placement agency for any and all claims under
this section shall be joint and several. This provisions shall be
incorporated in the contract for overseas employment and shall be a
condition precedent for its approval. The performance bond to be filed
by the recruitment/placement agency, as provided by law, shall be
answerable for all money claims or damages that may be awarded to
the workers. If the recruitment/placement agency is a juridical
being, the corporate officers and directors and partners as the
case may be, shall themselves be jointly and solidarily liable
with the corporation or partnership for the aforesaid claims
and damages.
Such liabilities shall continue during the entire period or duration of the
employment contract and shall not be affected by any substitution,
amendment or modification made locally or in a foreign country of the
said contract.
RA 8042 not only transferred from POEA to NLRC the jurisdiction over
money claims of OFWs; it even expanded the scope of such money
claim. When the jurisdiction was still with POEA, the
jurisdiction covered only money claims involving Filipino
workers for overseas employment. Now, the NLRC jurisdiction
is over money claims involving Filipino workers for overseas
deployment.
Any compromise/amicable settlement or voluntary agreement
on money claims inclusive of damages under this section shall be
paid within four (4) months from the approval of the
settlement by the appropriate authority.
In case of termination of overseas employment without just,
valid or authorized cause as defined by law or contract, the
workers shall be entitled to the full reimbursement of his
placement fee with interest of twelve percent (12%) per
annum, plus his salaries for the unexpired portion of his
employment contract or for three (3) months for every year of
the unexpired term, whichever is less.
Verily, the burden is on the employer to prove that the
termination was for a valid or authorized cause. For an
employee's dismissal to be valid, (1) the dismissal must be for a
valid cause and (2) the employee must be afforded due process
(Vinta Maritime v NLRC).
Article 282 of the Labor Code lists the following causes for
termination of employment by the employer: (1) serious
misconduct or willful disobedience of lawful orders in connection
with his or her work, (2) gross and habitual neglect of duties, (3)
fraud or willful breach of trust, (4) commission of a crime or
an offense against the person of the employer or his immediate
family member or representative, and (5) analogous cases

Page 4 of 26

The twin requirements of notice and hearing constitute the

essential elements of due process, and neither of these elements
can be eliminated without running afoul of the constitutional guaranty.
Marsaman v NLRC (1999): 3-months option available ONLY IF the
employment contract is for at least one year. If the contract is shorter
than that, the salary paid should be that for the unexpired portion.
Serrano v Gallant (2009): The clause whichever is less is
unconstitutional as it violates the OFWs right to equal protection of
the law and to substantive due process.
"In case of a final and executory judgement against a foreign
employer/principal, it shall be automatically disqualified, without
further proceedings, from participating in the Philippine Overseas
Employment Program and from recruiting and hiring Filipino workers
until and unless it fully satisfies the judgement award.
Non-compliance with the mandatory periods for resolutions of
cases provided under this section shall subject the responsible officials
to any or all of the following penalties:

claim for enforcement of a foreign judgment. Such a claim must be

brought before the regular courts (Pacific Asia v NLRC)
Art. 18. Ban on direct-hiring.
General Rule: No employer may hire a Filipino worker for overseas
employment except through the Boards and entities authorized by the
Secretary of Labor.
Exception: Direct-hiring by members of the diplomatic corps,
international organizations and such other employers as may be
allowed by the Secretary of Labor is exempted from this provision.
The reason for the ban is to ensure full regulation of employment in
order to avoid exploitation.
Also excepted are Name Hirees - worker who is able to secure an
overseas employment opportunity with an employer without the
assistance or participation of any agency.
Registration of Name Hirees.

(a) The salary of any such official who fails to render his decision
or resolutions within the prescribed period shall be, or caused to be,
withheld until the said official complies therewith;

Name hires, as defined in these Rules, shall be registered by the

Administration, subject to such guidelines as the Administration may
prescribe, and upon submission of the following documents: (EVP-CC)

(b) Suspension for not more than ninety (90) days; or

1) Employment contract
2) Valid passport
3) Employment visa or work permit, or equivalent document
4) Certificate of medical fitness
5) Certificate of attendance to the required employment orientation or
briefing

(c) Dismissal from the service with disqualifications to hold

any appointive public office for five (5) years.
Provided, however, that the penalties herein provided shall be without
prejudice to any liability which any such official may have incurred
under other existing laws or rules and regulations as a consequence of
violating the provisions of this paragraph.
IN
MONEY
CLAIMS,
EMPLOYERS
NATIONALITY
IS
IMMATERIAL: The statute and regulations do not limit the coverage
to non-Filipino employers. Filipinos working overseas share the same
risks and burdens whether their employers be Filipino or foreigner. x x
x The underlying regulatory policy is that Filipino seamen working in
ocean-going vessels should receive the same wages and benefits
without regard to the nationality or nationalities of the vessels in which
they serve (Eastern Shipping Lines v POEA).
DEATH & OTHER BENEFITS: The death and burial benefits are
chargeable against the State Insurance Fund. These claims arose from
the responsibility of the foreign employer together with the local
agency for the safety of the employee during his repatriation and until
his arrival in this country, the point of hire. Though the termination of
employment contract was duly effected still, the responsibility of the
foreign employer to see to it that the employee was duly repatriate
subsisted (Inter-Orient v NLRC).
DEATH BENEFITS OF SEAMEN: Compare this with NFD v NLRC
(1998): Compensability of a seamans death does not depend on
whether his illness was work-connected or not. What is material is that
his death occurred during the term of his employment contract
(Coastal Safeway v Delgado, 2008).
OVERSEAS COMPENSATION IN DOLLARS: While it is true that RA
529 makes it unlawful to require payment of domestic obligations in
foreign currency, this particular statute is not applicable to the case at
bar. The fixing of the award in dollars was based on the parties
employment contract, stipulating wages and benefits in dollars since
PR was engaged as an overseas seaman on board Ps foreign vessel
(Phil International v NLRC)
ENFORCEMENT OF FOREIGN JUDGMENT, OUTSIDE POEA
JURISDICTION: The POEA has no jurisdiction to hear and decide a

Art. 20. National Seamen Board. A National Seamen Board is

hereby created which shall develop and maintain a comprehensive
program for Filipino seamen employed overseas. It shall have the
power and duty:
To provide free placement services for seamen;
To regulate and supervise the activities of agents or
representatives of shipping companies in the hiring of seamen for
overseas employment and secure the best possible terms of
employment for contract seamen workers and secure compliance
therewith;
To maintain a complete registry of all Filipino seamen.
EO 797: REORGANIZING THE MINISTRY OF LABOR AND
EMPLOYMENT, CREATING THE PHILIPPINE OVERSEAS
EMPLOYMENT ADMINISTRATION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Sec. 4. There is hereby created a Philippine Overseas
Employment Administration, hereinafter referred to as the
administration, which shall assume the functions of the Overseas
Employment Development Board, the National Seamen Board,
and the overseas employment functions of the Bureau of
Employment Services; which shall absorb the applicable functions,
appropriations, records, equipment, property, and such personnel as
may be necessary of the abolished units; and which shall have the
powers, functions, and structure as provided for below.
XXX
Seamens behaviour should not be censured because it is but natural
for them to employ some means of pressing their demands on the
employer who refused to abide with the terms of the Special
agreement, to honor and respect the same. They were only acting in
the exercise of their rights and public policy. There is no serious

Page 5 of 26

misconduct to speak of which would justify their dismissal (Wallem

Shipping v Ministry of Labor)
INVALID SIDE AGREEMENT: An agreement that diminishes the
employees pay and benefits as contained in a POEA-approved contract
is void, unless such subsequent agreement is approved by POEA.
FREEDOM TO STIPULATE: Parties to overseas employment
contracts are allowed to stipulate other terms and conditions and other
benefits not provided under these minimum requirements; provided:
Whole employment package should be more beneficial the
worker
Not contrary to law, public policy and morals
Philippine agencies shall make foreign employers aware of
the standards of employment adopted by the administration
The phrase to be engaged in a remunerated activity refers to an
applicant worker who has been promised or assured of employment
overseas and acting on such promise or assurance, sustains damage
and/or injury.

5) Any official or employee of the DOLE, POEA, OWWA, DFA

and other government agencies directly involved in the
implementation of R.A. 8042, otherwise known as Migrant Workers
and Overseas Filipino Act of 1995 and/or any of his/her relatives
within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity; and
6) Persons or partners, officers and Directors of corporations whose
licenses have been previously cancelled or revoked for violation of
recruitment laws.

Art. 27. Citizenship requirement. Only Filipino citizens or

corporations, partnerships or entities at least seventy-five
percent (75%) of the authorized and voting capital stock of
which is owned and controlled by Filipino citizens shall be
permitted to participate in the recruitment and placement of workers,
locally or overseas.
Art. 28. Capitalization. All applicants for authority to hire or renewal
of license to recruit are required to have such substantial capitalization
as determined by the Secretary of Labor.

REGULATION OF RECRUITMENT AND PLACEMENT ACTIVITIES

BOOK II RULE 1 SECTION1 POEA RULES
Art. 26. Travel agencies prohibited to recruit. Travel agencies
and sales agencies of airline companies are prohibited from
engaging in the business of recruitment and placement of workers for
overseas employment whether for profit or not.
BOOK II RULE 1 SECTION 2 POEA RULES
Disqualification. The following are not qualified to engage in the
business of recruitment and placement of Filipino workers overseas:
(Ts-Om-Cp-D-4-Cr)
1) Travel agencies and sales agencies of airline companies;
2) Officers or members of the Board of any corporation or members
in a partnership engaged in the business of a travel agency;
3) Corporations and partnerships, when any of its officers,
members of the board or partners, is also an officer, member of the
board or partner of a corporation or partnership engaged in the
business of a travel agency;
4) Persons, partnerships or corporations which have derogatory
records, such as but not limited to the following:
Those certified to have derogatory record or information by the
National Bureau of Investigation or by the Anti-Illegal Recruitment
Branch of the POEA;
Those against whom probable cause or prima facie finding of guilt for
illegal recruitment or other related cases exists;
Those convicted for illegal recruitment or other related cases and/or
crimes involving moral turpitude; and
Those agencies whose licenses have been previously revoked or
cancelled by the Administration for violation of RA 8042, PD 442 as
amended and their implementing rules and regulations as well as
these rules and regulations.
All applicants for issuance/renewal of license shall be required to
submit clearances from the National Bureau of Investigation and Antiillegal Recruitment Branch, POEA, including clearances for their
respective officers and employees.

b. A minimum capitalization of Two Million Pesos (P2,000,000.00)

in case of a single proprietorship or partnership and a minimum
paid-up capital of Two Million Pesos (P2,000,000.00) in case of a
corporation;
Provided that those with existing licenses shall, within four years from
effectivity hereof, increase their capitalization or paid up capital, as the
case may be, to Two Million Pesos (P2,000,000.00) at the rate of Two
Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (P250,000.00) every year.
Art. 29. Non-transferability of license or authority. No license or
authority shall be used directly or indirectly by any person other than
the one in whose favor it was issued or at any place other
than that stated in the license or authority be transferred,
conveyed or assigned to any other person or entity. Any transfer of
business address, appointment or designation of any agent or
representative including the establishment of additional offices
anywhere shall be subject to the prior approval of the Department of
Labor.
Art. 31. Bonds. All applicants for license or authority shall post such
cash and surety bonds as determined by the Secretary of Labor to
guarantee compliance with prescribed recruitment procedures, rules
and regulations, and terms and conditions of employment as may be
appropriate.
For Local Employment:
Rule II, Section 6: Prior to the approval of the license, the applicant
shall post cash and surety bonds of Twenty-Five Thousand Pesos
(P25,000.00) and One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00)
respectively, valid for two (2) years and then pay a license of Six
Thousand Pesos (P6,000.00).
For Overseas Employment

Part II, Rule II, Section 4. Payment of Fees and Posting of

Bonds. Upon approval of the application, the applicant shall pay a
license fee of P50,000.00. It shall submit an Escrow Agreement in
the amount of P1,000,000.00, confirmation of escrow deposit with
an accredited reputable bank and a surety bond of P100,000.00
from a bonding company acceptable to the Administration and
accredited with the Insurance Commission.

Page 6 of 26

Agencies with existing licenses shall, within four years from effectivity
hereof, increase their Escrow Deposit to One Million Pesos.
The bonds and escrow shall answer for all valid and legal claims arising
from violations of the conditions for the grant and use of the license,
and/or accreditation and contracts of employment. The bonds and
escrow shall likewise guarantee compliance with the provisions of the
Code and its implementing rules and regulations relating to
recruitment and placement, the Rules of the Administration and
relevant issuances of the Department and all liabilities which the
Administration may impose. The surety bonds shall include the
condition that notice to the principal is notice to the surety and
that any judgment against the principal in connection with
matters falling under POEAs/NLRCs jurisdiction shall be
binding and conclusive on the surety. The surety bonds shall
cover the validity period of the license.
To compel the POEA and private respondents the beneficiaries of
Finman's bond-to go to the Insurance Commissioner or to a regular
court of law to enforce that bond, would be to collide with the public
policy which requires prompt resolution of claims against
private recruitment and placement agencies. x x x
Cash and surety bonds are required by the POEA and its predecessor
agencies from recruitment and employment companies precisely as a
means of ensuring prompt and effective recourse against such
companies when held liable for applicants or workers' claims.
Clearly that public policy will be effectively negated if POEA and the
Department of Labor and Employment were held powerless to compel
a surety company to make good on its solidary undertaking in the
same quasi-judicial proceeding where the liability of the principal
obligor, the recruitment or employment agency, is determined and
fixed and where the surety is given reasonable opportunity to present
any defenses it or the principal obligor may be entitled to set up.
(Finman v Inocencio).
GARNISHMENT OF BONDS: It is intended answer only for
employment-related claims and for violations of labor laws. Therefore,
it cannot be garnished to satisfy a claim against a recruitment agency
such as payment for airline tickets used by the agencys recruits.
Art. 32. Fees to be paid by workers.
Any person applying with a private fee-charging employment agency
for employment assistance shall not be charged any fee until he
has obtained employment through its efforts or has actually
commenced employment. Such fee shall be always covered with
the appropriate receipt clearly showing the amount paid. The
Secretary of Labor shall promulgate a schedule of allowable fees.
Placement Fee for local employment:
SECTION 29. Placement Fee.
A licensed PRPA may charge workers a placement fee which shall not
exceed twenty percent (20%) of the workers first months
basic salary; in no case shall such fee be charged prior to the actual
commencement of employment.

Section 2. Fees and Costs Chargeable to Principals. Unless

otherwise provided, the principal shall be responsible for the payment
of the following: VAPO
a. visa fee;
b. airfare
c. POEA processing fee; and
d. OWWA membership fee

Section 3. Fees/Costs Chargeable to the Workers.

Except where the prevailing system in the country where the worker is
to be deployed, either by law, policy or practice, do not allow the
charging or collection of placement and recruitment fee, a landbased
agency may charge and collect from its hired workers a placement fee
in an amount equivalent to one month salary, exclusive of
documentation costs. Documentation costs to be paid by the worker
shall include, but not limited to, expenses for the following:

PACBMTIM

a. Passport
b. NBI/Police/Barangay Clearance
c. Authentication
d. Birth Certificate
e. Medicare
f. Trade Test, if necessary
g. Inoculation, when required by host country
h. Medical Examination fees

In the event that the recruitment agency agrees to perform

documentation services, the worker shall pay only the actual cost of
the document which shall be covered by official receipts.
Service fee for Local Employment:
SECTION 30. Service Fee.
A licensed PRPA may charge employers a service fee which shall not
exceed twenty percent (20%) of the annual basic salary of the worker.
In no case shall the service fee be deducted from the workers salary.
Service Fee for Overseas Employment:
Agencies shall charge from their principals a service or manning fee
to cover services rendered in the recruitment, documentation and
placement of workers or seafarers.
REFUND OF FEES: POEA has the power to order refund of
illegally collected fees. Implicit in its power to regulate the
recruitment and placement activities of all agencies is the award of
appropriate relief to the victims of the offenses committed by the
respondent agency or contractor. Such relief includes the refund or
reimbursement of such fees as may have been fraudulently or
otherwise illegally collected, or such money, goods or services imposed
and accepted in excess of what is licitly prescribed (Eastern
Assurance v Secretary of Labor).
Art. 34. Prohibited practices.

Placement and Documentation Fees for overseas employment:

Section 1. Service Fee.

It shall be unlawful for any individual, entity, licensee, or holder of

authority:

Agencies shall charge from their principals a service fee to cover

services rendered in the recruitment, documentation and
placement of workers. The Administration shall provide incentives
to agencies and employers who are able to comply with this rule.

To charge or accept, directly or indirectly, any amount greater than

that specified in the schedule of allowable fees prescribed by the
Secretary of Labor, or to make a worker pay any amount greater than
that actually received by him as a loan or advance;
To furnish or publish any false notice or information or document in
relation to recruitment or employment;

Page 7 of 26

To give any false notice, testimony, information or document or

commit any act of misrepresentation for the purpose of securing a
license or authority under this Code.
To induce or attempt to induce a worker already employed to quit his
employment in order to offer him to another unless the transfer is
designed to liberate the worker from oppressive terms and conditions
of employment;
To influence or to attempt to influence any person or entity not to
employ any worker who has not applied for employment through his
agency;
To engage in the recruitment or placement of workers in jobs harmful
to public health or morality or to the dignity of the Republic of the
Philippines;
To obstruct or attempt to obstruct inspection by the Secretary of Labor
or by his duly authorized representatives;
To fail to file reports on the status of employment, placement
vacancies, remittance of foreign exchange earnings, separation from
jobs, departures and such other matters or information as may be
required by the Secretary of Labor.
To substitute or alter employment contracts approved and verified by
the Department of Labor from the time of actual signing thereof by the
parties up to and including the periods of expiration of the same
without the approval of the Secretary of Labor;
To become an officer or member of the Board of any corporation
engaged in travel agency or to be engaged directly or indirectly in the
management of a travel agency; and
To withhold or deny travel documents from applicant workers before
departure for monetary or financial considerations other than those
authorized under this Code and its implementing rules and regulations.
Art. 35. Suspension and/or cancellation of license or
authority. The Minister of Labor shall have the power to
suspend or cancel any license or authority to recruit employees
for overseas employment for violation of rules and regulations issued
by the Ministry of Labor, the Overseas Employment Development
Board, or for violation of the provisions of this and other applicable
laws, General Orders and Letters of Instructions.
Power to suspend or cancel any license or authority to recruit
employees for overseas employment is concurrently vested
with the POEA and the Secretary of Labor.
SUABILITY OF FOREIGN CORPORATION WHICH HIRES
FILIPINO WORKERS: Indeed, if a foreign corporation, not engaged
in business in the Philippines, is not banned from seeking redress from
courts in the Philippines, a fortiori, that same corporation cannot claim
exemption from being sued in Philippine courts for acts done against a
person or persons in the Philippines (Facilities Management v De la
Osa).
Art. 38. Illegal recruitment.
Any recruitment activities, including the prohibited practices
enumerated under Article 34 of this Code, to be undertaken by nonlicensees or non-holders of authority, shall be deemed illegal and
punishable under Article 39 of this Code. The Department of Labor and
Employment or any law enforcement officer may initiate complaints
under this Article.
The elements of the offense of illegal recruitment, which must
concur, are: (1) that the offender has no valid license or authority
required by law to lawfully engage in recruitment and placement

of workers; and (2) that the offender undertakes any activity within
the meaning of recruitment and placement under Article 13(b), or
any prohibited practices enumerated under Article 34 of the Labor
Code.
Under RA 8032, even a licensee or holder of authority may be held
guilty of illegal recruitment.
Illegal recruitment when committed by a syndicate or in large scale
shall be considered an offense involving economic sabotage and
shall be penalized in accordance with Article 39 hereof.
Illegal recruitment is deemed committed by a syndicate if carried out
by a group of three (3) or more persons conspiring and/or
confederating with one another in carrying out any unlawful or illegal
transaction, enterprise or scheme defined under the first paragraph
hereof. Illegal recruitment is deemed committed in large scale if
committed against three (3) or more persons individually or as a
group.
When the Labor Code speaks of illegal recruitment 'committed
against three (3) or more persons individually or as a group,' it
must be understood as referring to the number of complainants in
each case who are complainants therein, otherwise, prosecutions for
single crimes of illegal recruitment can be cumulated to make out a
case of large scale illegal recruitment. In other words, a conviction
for large scale illegal recruitment must be based on a finding
in each case of illegal recruitment of three or more persons
whether individually or as a group (People v Hernandez).
The Secretary of Labor and Employment or his duly authorized
representatives shall have the power to cause the arrest and detention
of such non-licensee or non-holder of authority if after investigation it
is determined that his activities constitute a danger to national security
and public order or will lead to further exploitation of job-seekers. The
Secretary shall order the search of the office or premises and seizure
of documents, paraphernalia, properties and other implements used in
illegal recruitment activities and the closure of companies,
establishments and entities found to be engaged in the recruitment of
workers for overseas employment, without having been licensed or
authorized to do so.
Article 38, paragraph (c) of the Labor Code is declared unconstitutional
and null and void. Under the new Constitution, it is only a judge who
may issue warrants of search and arrest (Salazar v Achacoso).
It is submitted however, that the power of the Secretary or his duly
authorized representatives to order the closure of illegal recruitment
establishment still subsists, the same being essentially administrative
and regulatory in nature.
ILLEGAL RECRUITMENT
UNDER RA 8042 as amended by RA 10022
Sec. 6. DEFINITIONS. - For purposes of this Act, illegal recruitment
shall mean any act of canvassing, enlisting, contracting, transporting,
utilizing, hiring, procuring workers and includes referring, contact
services, promising or advertising for employment abroad, whether for
profit or not, when undertaken by a non-license or non-holder of
authority contemplated under Article 13(f) of Presidential Decree No.
442, as amended, otherwise known as the Labor Code of the
Philippines. Provided, that such non-license or non-holder, who, in any
manner, offers or promises for a fee employment abroad to two or
more persons shall be deemed so engaged. It shall likewise include the
following acts, whether committed by any persons, whether a nonlicensee, non-holder, licensee or holder of authority.
(a) To charge or accept directly or indirectly any amount greater than
the specified in the schedule of allowable fees prescribed by the
Secretary of Labor and Employment, or to make a worker pay any

Page 8 of 26

amount greater than that actually received by him as a loan or

advance;

worker issue, either personally or through a guarantor or

accommodation party, postdated checks in relation to the said loan;

(b) To furnish or publish any false notice or information or document

in relation to recruitment or employment;

"(2) Impose a compulsory and exclusive arrangement whereby an

overseas Filipino worker is required to avail of a loan only from
specifically designated institutions, entities or persons;

(c) To give any false notice, testimony, information or document or

commit any act of misrepresentation for the purpose of securing a
license or authority under the Labor Code;
(d) To induce or attempt to induce a worker already employed to quit
his employment in order to offer him another unless the transfer is
designed to liberate a worker from oppressive terms and conditions of
employment;
(e) To influence or attempt to influence any persons or entity not to
employ any worker who has not applied for employment through his
agency;
(f) To engage in the recruitment of placement of workers in jobs
harmful to public health or morality or to dignity of the Republic of the
Philippines;
(g) To obstruct or attempt to obstruct inspection by the Secretary of
Labor and Employment or by his duly authorized representative;
(h) To fail to submit reports on the status of employment, placement
vacancies, remittances of foreign exchange earnings, separations from
jobs, departures and such other matters or information as may be
required by the Secretary of Labor and Employment;
(i) To substitute or alter to the prejudice of the worker, employment
contracts approved and verified by the Department of Labor and
Employment from the time of actual signing thereof by the parties up
to and including the period of the expiration of the same without the
approval of the Department of Labor and Employment;
(j) For an officer or agent of a recruitment or placement agency to
become an officer or member of the Board of any corporation engaged
in travel agency or to be engaged directly on indirectly in the
management of a travel agency;
(k) To withhold or deny travel documents from applicant workers
before departure for monetary or financial considerations other than
those authorized under the Labor Code and its implementing rules and
regulations;
(l) Failure to actually deploy without valid reasons as determined by
the Department of Labor and Employment; and
(m) Failure to reimburse expenses incurred by the workers in
connection with his documentation and processing for purposes of
deployment, in cases where the deployment does not actually take
place without the worker's fault. Illegal recruitment when committed
by a syndicate or in large scale shall be considered as offense involving
economic sabotage.
"(n) To allow a non-Filipino citizen to head or manage a licensed
recruitment/manning agency.
Illegal recruitment is deemed committed by a syndicate carried out by
a group of three (3) or more persons conspiring or confederating with
one another. It is deemed committed in large scale if committed
against three (3) or more persons individually or as a group.
"In addition to the acts enumerated above, it shall also be unlawful for
any person or entity to commit the following prohibited acts:
"(1) Grant a loan to an overseas Filipino worker with interest
exceeding eight percent (8%) per annum, which will be used for
payment of legal and allowable placement fees and make the migrant

"(3) Refuse to condone or renegotiate a loan incurred by an overseas

Filipino worker after the latter's employment contract has been
prematurely terminated through no fault of his or her own;
"(4) Impose a compulsory and exclusive arrangement whereby an
overseas Filipino worker is required to undergo health examinations
only from specifically designated medical clinics, institutions, entities or
persons, except in the case of a seafarer whose medical examination
cost is shouldered by the principal/shipowner;
"(5) Impose a compulsory and exclusive arrangement whereby an
overseas Filipino worker is required to undergo training, seminar,
instruction or schooling of any kind only from specifically designated
institutions, entities or persons, except fpr recommendatory trainings
mandated by principals/shipowners where the latter shoulder the cost
of such trainings;
"(6) For a suspended recruitment/manning agency to engage in any
kind of recruitment activity including the processing of pending
workers' applications; and
"(7) For a recruitment/manning agency or a foreign principal/employer
to pass on the overseas Filipino worker or deduct from his or her
salary the payment of the cost of insurance fees, premium or other
insurance related charges, as provided under the compulsory worker's
insurance coverage.
The persons criminally liable for the above offenses are the
principals, accomplices and accessories. In case of juridical
persons, the officers having control, management or direction
of their business shall be liable.
WHEN IS AN EMPLOYEE LIABLE: An agencys employee who does
not control, manage or direct the business may not be held liable for
illegal recruitment. Where it is shown that the employee was merely
acting under the direction of his superiors and was unaware that his
acts constitute a crime, he may not be held criminally liable for an act
done and in behalf of his employer (People v Bulu Chowdury).
LACK OF RECEIPTS: The absence of receipts cannot defeat a
criminal prosecution for illegal recruitment. As long as the witnesses
can positively show through their respective testimonies that the
accused is the one involved in prohibited recruitment, she may be
convicted of the offense despite the absence of receipts (People v
Cabais)
AQUINO v CA
Receipt of payments, after the expiration of the license, for services
rendered before said expiration does not constitute illegal recruitment.
Recruitment refers to the offering of inducements to qualified
personnel to enter a particular job or employment. The advertising, the
promise of future employment and other come-ons took place while
Ms. Aquino was still licensed. True, the payments for services rendered
are necessary consequences of the applications for overseas
employment. However, it is asking too much to expect a licensed
agency to absolutely at the stroke of midnight stop all transactions on
the day its license expires and refuse to accept carry-over payments
after the agency is closed. In any business, there has to be a windingup after it ceases operations. The collection of unpaid accounts should
not be the basis of a criminal prosecution.
The prosecution is based on the date of the prohibited activity, not on
the payments being illegal exactions even if effected during the correct

Page 9 of 26

period. The payments are necessary in order to defray the expenses

entailed in any overseas contract of e0mployment. They are intended
for administrative and business expenses and for the travelling
expenses of the applicants once cleared for overseas travel.
By themselves, procuring a passport, airline tickets and foreign visa for
another individual, without more, can hardly qualify as recruitment
activities. IR must be proved beyond reasonable doubt (Darvin v CA).
A person who is convicted of illegal recruitment may, in
addition, be convicted of estafa under Art. 315 (2) of the
Revised Penal Code provided the elements of estafa are
present. Estafa under Article 315, paragraph 2 of the Revised Penal
Code is committed by any person who defrauds another by using a
fictitious name, or falsely pretends to possess power, influence,
qualifications, property, credit, agency, business or imaginary
transactions, or by means of similar deceits executed prior to or
simultaneously with the commission of the fraud. The offended party
must have relied on the false pretense, fraudulent act or fraudulent
means of the accused-appellant and as a result thereof, the offended
party suffered damages (People v Hernandez).

In every case, conviction shall cause and carry the automatic

revocation of the license or authority and all the permits and
privileges granted to such person or entity under this Title, and the
forfeiture of the cash and surety bonds in favor of the Overseas
Employment Development Board or the National Seamen Board, as the
case may be, both of which are authorized to use the same exclusively
to promote their objectives.
SEC. 7. PENALTIES (Overseas Employment)
(a) Any person found guilty of illegal recruitment shall suffer the
penalty of imprisonment of not less than six (6) years and one
(1) day but not more than twelve (12) years and a fine not less
than two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00) nor more
than five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00).
"(a) Any person found guilty of illegal recruitment shall suffer the
penalty of imprisonment of not less than twelve (12) years and
one (1) day but not more than twenty (20) years and a fine of
not less than One million pesos (P1,000,000.00) nor more
than Two million pesos (P2,000,000.00).

"In the filing of cases for illegal recruitment or any of the prohibited
acts under this section, the Secretary of Labor and Employment, the
POEA Administrator or their duly authorized representatives, or any
aggrieved person may initiate the corresponding criminal action with
the appropriate office. For this purpose, the affidavits and testimonies
of operatives or personnel from the Department of Labor and
Employment, POEA and other law enforcement agencies who
witnessed the acts constituting the offense shall be sufficient to
prosecute the accused.

(b) The penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of not less than five
hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) nor more than one million
pesos (P1,000,000.00) shall be imposed if illegal recruitment
constitutes economic sabotage as defined herein.

"In the prosecution of offenses punishable under this section, the

public prosecutors of the Department of Justice shall collaborate with
the anti-illegal recruitment branch of the POEA and, in certain cases,
allow the POEA lawyers to take the lead in the prosecution. The POEA
lawyers who act as prosecutors in such cases shall be entitled to
receive additional allowances as may be determined by the POEA
Administrator.

Provided, however, that the maximum penalty shall be imposed if

the person illegally recruited is less than eighteen (18) years
of age or committed by a non-licensee or non-holder of
authority.

"The filing of an offense punishable under this Act shall be without

prejudice to the filing of cases punishable under other existing laws,
rules or regulations."
Art. 39. Penalties. (Local Employment)
The penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of One Hundred
Thousand Pesos (P1000,000.00) shall be imposed if illegal
recruitment constitutes economic sabotage as defined herein;
Any licensee or holder of authority found violating or causing
another to violate any provision of this Title or its implementing rules
and regulations shall, upon conviction thereof, suffer the penalty of
imprisonment of not less than two years nor more than five
years or a fine of not less than P10,000 nor more than
P50,000, or both such imprisonment and fine, at the discretion of the
court;

"(b) The penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of not less than Two
million pesos (P2,000,000.00) nor more than Five million
pesos (P5,000,000.00) shall be imposed if illegal recruitment
constitutes economic sabotage as defined therein.

"(c) Any person found guilty of any of the prohibited acts shall suffer
the penalty of imprisonment of not less than six (6) years and one
(1) day but not more than twelve (12) years and a fine of not
less than Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) nor
more than One million pesos (P1,000,000.00).
"If the offender is an alien, he or she shall, in addition to the penalties
herein prescribed, be deported without further proceedings.
"In every case, conviction shall cause and carry the automatic
revocation
of
the
license
or
registration
of
the
recruitment/manning agency, lending institutions, training school or
medical clinic."

Economic Sabotage LI & 1M - LI & 2-5M

Any person who is neither a licensee nor a holder of authority

under this Title found violating any provision thereof or its
implementing rules and regulations shall, upon conviction thereof,
suffer the penalty of imprisonment of not less than four years
nor more than eight years or a fine of not less than P20,000
nor more than P100,000 or both such imprisonment and fine, at
the discretion of the court;
If the offender is a corporation, partnership, association or
entity, the penalty shall be imposed upon the officer or officers of the
corporation, partnership, association or entity responsible for violation;
and if such officer is an alien, he shall, in addition to the penalties
herein prescribed, be deported without further proceedings;

Page 10 of 26

That illegal recruitment cases involving economic sabotage as

defined herein shall prescribe in twenty (20) years.
Art. 40. Employment permit of non-resident aliens.
Any alien seeking admission to the Philippines for employment
purposes and any domestic or foreign employer who desires to engage
an alien for employment in the Philippines shall obtain an
employment permit from the Department of Labor.
The employment permit may be issued to a non-resident alien or to
the applicant employer after a determination of the nonavailability of a person in the Philippines who is competent,
able and willing at the time of application to perform the
services for which the alien is desired.
For an enterprise registered in preferred areas of investments, said
employment permit may be issued upon recommendation of the
government agency charged with the supervision of said registered
enterprise.
Requisites for Employment of Non-Resident Aliens:
1)
2)
3)
4)

Working permit from DOLE

Certification that there is no available Filipino willing and
competent to do the job for the employer
Alien must train at least two Filipino understudies for such
undertaking
For enterprises registered in preferred areas of investment employment permit issued upon recommendation of
government agency charged with the supervision of said
registered enterprise

For immigrants and resident aliens, what is required is an Alien

Employment Registration Certificate.

AERC

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8042

Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. - For purposes of this Act:
(a) "Migrant worker" refers to a person who is to be engaged, is
engaged or has been engaged in a remunerated activity in a state of
which he or she is not a legal resident to be used interchangeably with
overseas Filipino worker.
RA 10022: "(a) "Overseas Filipino worker" refers to a person who
is to be engaged, is engaged or has been engaged in a remunerated
activity in a state of which he or she is not a citizen or on board
a vessel navigating the foreign seas other than a government
ship used for military or non-commercial purposes or on an
installation located offshore or on the high seas; to be used
interchangeably with migrant worker."
SEC. 11. MANDATORY PERIODS FOR RESOLUTION OF ILLEGAL
RECRUITMENT CASES. - The preliminary investigations of cases
under this Act shall be terminated within a period of thirty (30)
calendar days from the date of their filing. Where the
preliminary investigation is conducted by a prosecution officer
and a prima facie case is established, the corresponding information
shall be filed in court within twenty-four (24) hours from the
termination of the investigation. If the preliminary investigation is
conducted by a judge and a prima facie case is found to exist,
prosecution officer within forty-eight (48) hours from the date of
receipt of the records of the case.

Exemption from Permit

1)

All members of Diplomatic Services and foreign government

officials accredited with the Philippine Government

2)

Members of international organizations with which the Phil.

Government is a cooperating member (i.e. ADB, IRRI)

3)

Missionaries actually engaged in missionary work

4)

All aliens granted exemption by special laws and

5)

All those whose employment in the Phil. Have been

determined by the Sec. of Labor to be beneficial to national
interest.

Duration of Permit
Valid for 1 year from date of issuance, unless sooner
revoked by the Secretary of Labor
Renewable upon showing of good cause
Non-transferable
Foreigners may not be employed in certain nationalized
business.
Exceptions: (a) where the Secretary of Justice specifically
authorizes the employment of foreign technical personnel;
(b) where the aliens are elected members of the board of
directors or governing body of corporations or association in
proportion to their allowable participation in the capital of
such entities.

SEC. 12. PRESCRIPTIVE PERIODS. - Illegal recruitment cases

under this Act shall prescribe in five (5) years: Provided, however,

Page 11 of 26

Enterprises registered under the Omnibus Investments Code may, for

a limited period, employ foreign nationals in technical, supervisory or
advisory positions.
Art. 41. Prohibition against transfer of employment.
After the issuance of an employment permit, the alien shall not
transfer to another job or change his employer without prior
approval of the Secretary of Labor.
Any non-resident alien who shall take up employment in violation of
the provision of this Title and its implementing rules and regulations
shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of Articles 289 and
290 of the Labor Code.
In addition, the alien worker shall be subject to deportation after
service of his sentence.
Art. 42. Submission of list. Any employer employing non-resident
foreign nationals on the effective date of this Code shall submit a list
of such nationals to the Secretary of Labor within thirty (30) days after
such date indicating their names, citizenship, foreign and local
addresses, nature of employment and status of stay in the country.
The Secretary of Labor shall then determine if they are entitled to an
employment permit.

HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT

REPUBLIC ACT 7796
TECHNICAL EDUCATION
AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
SECTION 5. Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority; Creation. To implement the policy declared in this Act,
there is hereby created a Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA), hereinafter referred to as the
Authority, which shall replace and absorb the National Manpower and
Youth Council (NMYC), the Bureau of Technical and Vocational
Education (BTVE) and the personnel and functions pertaining to
technical-vocational education in the regional offices of the
Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) and the
apprenticeship program of the Bureau of Local Employment of the
Department of Labor and Employment.
Power and Functions of TESDA: Responsible for formulating,
continuing, coordinating, and fully integrating technical education and
skills development policies, plans and programs
SECTION 7. Composition of the TESDA Board. The TESDA
Board shall be composed of the following:

BOOK 1, RULE XIV SECTION 5. Requirements for employment

permit application. The application for an employment permit
shall be accompanied by the following:

The Secretary of Labor and Employment Chairperson

(a) Curriculum vitae duly signed by the applicant indicating his

educational background, his work experience and other data showing
that he possesses high technical skills in his trade or profession;

Secretary of Trade and Industry - Co-Chairperson

(b) Contract of employment between the employer and the

principal which shall embody the following, among others:

Secretary of Interior and Local Government - Member

C C (C2N) D

(1) That the non-resident alien worker shall comply with all
applicable laws and rules and regulations of the Philippines;
(2) That the non-resident alien worker and the employer shall bind
themselves to train at least two (2) Filipino understudies for a
period to be determined by the Secretary of Labor and Employment;
and
(3) That he shall not engage in any gainful employment other
than that for which he was issued a permit.
(c) A designation by the employer of at least two (2) understudies
for every alien worker. Such understudies must be the most
ranking regular employees in the section or department for which
the expatriates are being hired to ensure the actual transfer of
technology.
Resident aliens are not required to secure employment permit
(Almodiel v NLRC)
Under Article 40 of the Labor Code, an employer seeking employment
of an alien must first obtain an employment permit from the
Department of Labor. Petitioner GMC's right to choose whom to
employ is, of course, limited by the statutory requirement of
an alien employment permit. (General Milling v Torres)
An alien may question the constitutionality of a statute (or court order)
only when and so far as it is being, or is about to be, applied to his
disadvantage. The prospective employees whom the petitioner may
contemplate employing have not come forward to seek redress; their
identity has not even been revealed. Clearly the petitioner has no case
in so far as it strives to protect the rights of others, much less others
who are unknown and undetermined (Chuan & Sons v CIR).

Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports - Co-Chairperson

Secretary of Agriculture - Member

Director-General of the TESDA Secretariat - Member

In addition, the President of the Philippines shall appoint the following
members from the private sector: two (2) representatives, from the
employer/industry organization, one of whom shall be a woman; three
(3) representatives, from the labor sector, one of whom shall be a
woman; and two (2) representatives of the national associations of
private technical-vocational education and training institutions, one of
whom shall be a woman. As soon as all the members of the private
sector are appointed, they shall so organize themselves that the term
of office of one-third (1/3) of their number shall expire every year. The
member from the private sector appointed thereafter to fill vacancies
caused by expiration of terms shall hold office for three (3) years.
The President of the Philippines may, however, revise the membership
of the TESDA Board, whenever the President deems it necessary for
the effective performance of the Boards functions through an
administrative order.

SECTION 19. Technical Education and Skills Development

Committees. The Authority shall establish Technical Education and
Skills Development Committees at the regional and local levels to
coordinate and monitor the delivery of all skills development activities
by the public and private sectors. These committees shall likewise
serve as the Technical Education and Skills Development Committees
of the Regional and local development councils. The composition of
the Technical Education and Skills Development Committees shall be
determined by the Director-General subject to the guidelines to be
promulgated by the Authority.

Page 12 of 26

SECTION 20. Skills Development Centers. The Authority shall

strengthen the network of national, regional and local skills training
centers for the purpose of promoting skills development.

SECTION 27. Incentives Schemes. The Authority shall develop

and administer appropriate incentives schemes to encourage
government and private industries and institutions to provide
highquality technical education and skills development opportunities.
TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OF SPECIAL WORKERS
APPRENTICE
SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act:
b) Skills Development shall mean the process through which learners
and workers are systematically provided with learning opportunities to
acquire or upgrade, or both, their ability, knowledge and behavior
pattern required as qualifications for a job or range of jobs in a given
occupational area;
c) Technical Education shall refer to the education process designed
at post-secondary and lower tertiary levels, officially recognized as
non-degree programs aimed at preparing technicians, paraprofessionals and other categories of middle-level workers by providing
them with a broad range of general education, theoretical, scientific
and technological studies, and related job skills training;
g) Trainers shall mean persons who direct the practice of skills
towards immediate improvement in some task;
h) Trainors/trainers shall mean persons who provide training to
trainers aimed at developing the latters capacities for imparting
attitudes, knowledge, skills and behavior patterns required for specific
jobs, tasks, occupations or group of related occupations;
i) Trainees shall mean persons who are participants in a vocational,
administrative or technical training program for the purpose of
acquiring and developing job-related skills;
j) Apprenticeship training within employment with compulsory
related theoretical instructions involving a contract between an
apprentice and an employer on an approved apprenticeable
occupation;

Possess the ability to comprehend and follow oral and written

instructions.
Trade and industry associations may recommend to the Secretary of
Labor appropriate educational requirements for different occupations.

Art. 61. Contents of apprenticeship agreements.

6-75-A

Apprenticeship agreements, including the wage rates of apprentices,

shall conform to the rules issued by the Secretary of Labor and
Employment. The period of apprenticeship shall not exceed six
months. Apprenticeship agreements providing for wage rates below
the legal minimum wage, which in no case shall start below 75
percent of the applicable minimum wage, may be entered into
only in accordance with apprenticeship programs duly approved by
the Secretary of Labor and Employment. The Department shall
develop standard model programs of apprenticeship. (As amended by
Section 1, Executive Order No. 111, December 24, 1986)
At the termination of the apprenticeship, the employer is not required
to continue the employment.
Employer may not pay wage if the apprenticeship is:
requirement for graduation
required by the School
required by the Training Program Curriculum
requisite for Board examination
An apprenticeship program should first be approved by the DOLE
before an apprentice may be hired, otherwise the person hired will be
considered a regular employee.
Rationale: Prior approval from the TESDA is necessary to
ensure that only employers in the highly technical industries
may employ apprentices and only in apprenticeable
occupations.
The apprenticeship agreement was enforced even before the TESDA
approved
petitioners
apprenticeship
program.
Thus,
the
apprenticeship agreement is void because it lacked prior approval from
the TESDA (Century Canning v CA).
Art. 62. Signing of apprenticeship agreement.

k) Apprentice is a person undergoing training for an approved

apprenticeable occupation during an established period assured by an
apprenticeship agreement;

Every apprenticeship agreement shall be signed by the employer or

his agent, or by an authorized representative of any of the
recognized organizations, associations or groups and by the
apprentice.

l) Apprenticeship Agreement is a contract wherein a prospective

employer binds himself to train the apprentice who in turn accepts the
terms of training for a recognized apprenticeable occupation
emphasizing the rights, duties and responsibilities of each party;

An apprenticeship agreement with a minor shall be signed in his

behalf by his parent or guardian, if the latter is not available, by an
authorized representative of the Department of Labor, and the same
shall be binding during its lifetime.

m) Apprenticeable Occupation is an occupation officially

endorsed by a tripartite body and approved for apprenticeship by the
Authority;
n) Learners refer to persons hired as trainees in semi-skilled and
other industrial occupations which are non-apprenticeable.

Every apprenticeship agreement entered into under this Title shall be

ratified by the appropriate apprenticeship committees, if any, and a
copy thereof shall be furnished both the employer and the apprentice.
Art. 63. Venue of apprenticeship programs.

Learnership programs must be approved by the Authority.

Any firm, employer, group or association, industry organization or civic

group wishing to organize an apprenticeship program may choose
from any of the following apprenticeship schemes as the training
venue for apprentice:

Art. 59. Qualifications of apprentice. To qualify as an apprentice,

a person shall:

1) Apprenticeship conducted entirely by and within the sponsoring

firm, establishment or entity;

Be at least fourteen (14) years of age;

Possess vocational aptitude and capacity for appropriate tests; and

Page 13 of 26

2) Apprenticeship entirely within a Department of Labor and

Employment training center or other public training
institution; or
3) Initial training in trade fundamentals in a training center or other
institution with subsequent actual work participation within the
sponsoring firm or entity during the final stage of training.
Art. 64. Sponsoring of apprenticeship program.
Any of the apprenticeship schemes recognized herein may be
undertaken or sponsored by a single employer or firm or by a group or
association thereof or by a civic organization. Actual training of
apprentices may be undertaken:
1) In the premises of the sponsoring employer in the case of
individual apprenticeship programs;
2) In the premises of one or several designated firms in the case
of programs sponsored by a group or association of employers or by a
civic organization; or
3) In a Department of Labor and Employment training center
or other public training institution.
Art. 65. Investigation
agreement.

of

violation

of

apprenticeship

Upon complaint of any interested person or upon its own

initiative, the appropriate agency of the Department of Labor and
Employment or its authorized representative shall investigate any
violation of an apprenticeship agreement pursuant to such rules and
regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of Labor and
Employment.
Art. 66. Appeal to the Secretary of Labor and Employment.
The decision of the authorized agency of the Department of Labor and
Employment may be appealed by any aggrieved person to the
Secretary of Labor and Employment within five (5) days from
receipt of the decision. The decision of the Secretary of Labor
and Employment shall be final and executory.
Art. 67. Exhaustion of administrative remedies.
No person shall institute any action for the enforcement of any
apprenticeship agreement or damages for breach of any such
agreement,
unless
he
has
exhausted
all
available
administrative remedies.

The organization of apprenticeship program shall be primarily

a voluntary undertaking by employers;
When national security or particular requirements of
economic development so demand, the President of the
Philippines may require compulsory training of apprentices in
certain trades, occupations, jobs or employment levels where shortage
of trained manpower is deemed critical as determined by the Secretary
of Labor and Employment. Appropriate rules in this connection shall be
promulgated by the Secretary of Labor and Employment as the need
arises; and
Where services of foreign technicians are utilized by private companies
in apprenticeable trades, said companies are required to set up
appropriate apprenticeship programs.
Art. 71. Deductibility of training costs. An additional deduction
from taxable income of one-half (1/2) of the value of labor
training expenses incurred for developing the productivity and
efficiency of apprentices shall be granted to the person or enterprise
organizing an apprenticeship program: Provided, That such program
is duly recognized by the Department of Labor and
Employment: Provided, further, That such deduction shall not
exceed ten (10%) percent of direct labor wage: and Provided,
finally, That the person or enterprise who wishes to avail himself or
itself of this incentive should pay his apprentices the minimum
wage.
Art. 72. Apprentices without compensation.
The Secretary of Labor and Employment may authorize the hiring of
apprentices without compensation whose training on the job is
required by the school or training program curriculum or as requisite
for graduation or board examination.
OMNIBUS RULES BOOK III RULE X
SECTION 14. Working scholars.
There is no employer-employee relationship between students on one
hand, and schools, colleges or universities on the other, where there is
written agreement between them under which the former agree to
work for the latter in exchange for the privilege to study free of
charge, provided the students are given real opportunities, including
such facilities as may be reasonable and necessary to finish their
chosen courses under such agreement.
LEARNERS

Art. 68. Aptitude testing of applicants.

Art. 73. Learners defined.

Consonant with the minimum qualifications of apprentice-applicants

required under this Chapter, employers or entities with duly recognized
apprenticeship programs shall have primary responsibility for providing
appropriate aptitude tests in the selection of apprentices. If
they do not have adequate facilities for the purpose, the Department
of Labor and Employment shall perform the service free of charge.

Learners are persons hired as trainees in semi-skilled and other

industrial occupations which are non-apprenticeable and which
may be learned through practical training on the job in a relatively
short period of time which shall not exceed three (3) months.

Art. 69. Responsibility for theoretical instruction.

n) Learners refer to persons hired as trainees in semi-skilled and

other industrial occupations which are non-apprenticeable.

Supplementary theoretical instruction to apprentices in cases

where the program is undertaken in the plant may be done by the
employer. If the latter is not prepared to assume the responsibility,
the same may be delegated to an appropriate government
agency.
Art. 70. Voluntary organization of apprenticeship programs;
exemptions.

RA 7796

Art. 74. When learners may be hired.

Learners may be employed when no experienced workers are
available, the employment of learners is necessary to prevent
curtailment of employment opportunities, and the employment
does not create unfair competition in terms of labor costs or
impair or lower working standards.

Page 14 of 26

Art. 75. Learnership agreement.

Any employer desiring to employ learners shall enter into a learnership
agreement with them, which agreement shall include:
The names and addresses of the learners;
The duration of the learnership period, which shall not exceed
three (3) months;
The wages or salary rates of the learners which shall begin at not
less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the applicable
minimum wage; and
A commitment to employ the learners if they so desire, as
regular employees upon completion of the learnership. All
learners who have been allowed or suffered to work during the
first two (2) months shall be deemed regular employees if
training is terminated by the employer before the end of the
stipulated period through no fault of the learners.
The learnership agreement shall be subject to inspection by the
Secretary of Labor and Employment or his duly authorized
representative.
[[

Art. 76. Learners in piecework. Learners employed in piece or

incentive-rate jobs during the training period shall be paid in full
for the work done.

Page 15 of 26

HANDICAPPED WORKERS
Art. 78. Definition.
Handicapped workers are those whose earning capacity is impaired
by age or physical or mental deficiency or injury.
[

Art. 79. When employable.

Handicapped workers may be employed when their employment is
necessary
to
prevent
curtailment
of
employment
opportunities and when it does not create unfair competition in
labor costs or impair or lower working standards.
Art. 80. Employment agreement. Any employer who employs
handicapped workers shall enter into an employment agreement with
them, which agreement shall include:
The names and addresses of the handicapped workers to be
employed;
The rate to be paid the handicapped workers which shall not be less
than seventy five (75%) percent of the applicable legal
minimum wage;
The duration of employment period; and
The work to be performed by handicapped workers.
The employment agreement shall be subject to inspection by the
Secretary of Labor or his duly authorized representative.
[

Art. 81. Eligibility for apprenticeship.

Subject to the appropriate provisions of this Code, handicapped
workers may be hired as apprentices or learners if their handicap is
not such as to effectively impede the performance of job
operations in the particular occupations for which they are
hired.
REPUBLIC ACT 7277
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE REHABILITATION, SELFDEVELOPMENTAND SELF-RELIANCE OF DISABLED PERSONS
AND THEIR INTEGRATION INTO THE MAINSTREAM OF
SOCIETY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy
The grant of the rights and privileges for disabled persons shall be
guided by the following principles:
(a). Disabled persons are part of the Philippine society, thus the
Senate shall give full support to the improvement of the total wellbeing of disabled persons and their integration into the mainstream of
society.
Toward this end, the State shall adopt policies ensuring the
rehabilitation, self-development and self-reliance of disabled persons.
It shall develop their skills and potentials to enable them to compete
favorably for available opportunities.
(b). Disabled persons have the same rights as other people to
take their proper place in society. They should be able to live
freely and as independently as possible. This must be the concern of
everyone
the family, community and all government and nongovernment organizations. Disabled persons rights must never be
perceived as welfare services by the Government.

(c). The rehabilitation of the disabled persons shall be the

concern of the Government in order to foster their capability
to attain a more meaningful, productive and satisfying life. To
reach out to a greater number of disabled persons, the rehabilitation
services and benefits shall be expanded beyond the traditional urbanbased centers to community based programs, that will ensure full
participation of different sectors as supported by national and local
government agencies.
(d). The State also recognizes the role of the private sector in
promoting the welfare of disabled persons and shall
encourage partnership in programs that address their needs
and concerns.
(e). To facilitate integration of disabled persons into the
mainstream of society, the State shall advocate for and
encourage respect for disabled persons. The State shall exert all
efforts to remove all social, cultural, economic, environmental and
attitudinal barriers that are prejudicial to disabled persons.
[[

SECTION 4. Definition of Terms

For purposes of this Act, these terms are defined as follows:
(a). Disabled Persons are those suffering from restriction of
different abilities, as a result of a mental, physical or sensory
impairment, to perform an activity in the manner or within the range
considered normal for a human being;
(c). Disability shall
substantially limits
anatomical function
a record of such an
an impairment;

mean (1) a physical or mental impairment that

one or more psychological, physiological or
of an individual or activities of such individual; (2)
impairment; or (3) being regarded as having such

(d). Handicap refers to a disadvantage for a given individual resulting

from an impairment or a disability, that limits or prevents the functions
or activity, that is considered normal given the age and sex of the
individual;
(l). Qualified Individual with a Disability shall mean an individual
with a disability who, with or without reasonable accommodations, can
perform the essential functions of the employment position
that such individual holds or desires. However, consideration shall
be given to the employers judgement as to what functions of a job are
essential, and if an employer has prepared a written description before
advertising or interviewing applicants for the job, this description shall
be considered evidence of the essential functions of the job;
SECTION 5. Equal Opportunity for Employment
No disabled persons shall be denied access to opportunities for
suitable employment. A qualified disabled employee shall be subject to
the same terms and conditions of employment and the same
compensation, privileges, benefits, fringe benefits, incentives or
allowances as a qualified able-bodied person. Five percent (5%) of all
casual, emergency and contractual positions in the Department of
Social Welfare and Development; Health; Education, Culture and
Sports; and other government agencies, offices or corporations
engaged in social development shall be reserved for disabled persons.
Sec. 6. Sheltered Employment If suitable employment for
disabled persons cannot be found through open employment as
provided in the immediately preceding Section, the State shall
endeavor to provide it by means of sheltered employment. In the
placement of disabled persons in sheltered employment, it shall accord
due regard to the individual qualities, vocational goals and inclinations
to ensure a good working atmosphere and efficient production.

Page 16 of 26

SECTION 7. Apprenticeship
Subject to the provision of the Labor Code as amended, disabled
persons shall be eligible as apprentices or learners; Provided, That
their handicap is not much as to effectively impede the
performance of job operations in the particular occupation for
which they are hired; Provided, further, That after the lapse of
the period of apprenticeship if found satisfactory in the job
performance, they shall be eligible for employment.
SECTION 8. Incentives for Employer
(a) To encourage the active participation of the private sector in
promoting the welfare of disabled persons and to ensure gainful
employment for qualified disabled persons, adequate incentives shall
be provided to private entities which employ disabled persons.
(b). Private entities that employ disabled persons who meet the
required skills or qualifications, either as regular employee, apprentice
or learner, shall be entitled to an additional deduction, from their
gross income, equivalent to twenty-five percent (25%) of the
total amount paid as salaries and wages to disabled persons:
Provided, however, That such entities present proof as certified by the
Department of Labor and Employment that disabled person are under
their employ. Provided, further, That the disabled employee is
accredited with the Department of Labor and Employment and the
Department of Health as to his disability, skills and qualifications.
(c). Private entities that improved or modify their physical
facilities in order to provide reasonable accommodation for disabled
persons shall also be entitled to an additional deduction from their
net taxable income, equivalent to fifty percent (50%) of the
direct costs of the improvements or modifications. This section,
however, does not apply to improvements or modifications of facilities
required under Batas Pambansa Bilang 344.
REPUBLIC ACT 9442
AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7277, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE MAGNA CARTA FOR DISABLED PERSONS,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
SECTION 1. a new chapter, to be denominated as Chapter 8. Other
privileges and Incentives is hereby added to Title Two of Republic Act
No. 7277, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons,
with new Sections 32 and 33, to read as follows:
CHAPTER 8. Other Privileges and Incentives
SEC. 32. Persons with disability shall be entitled to the following:
(a) At least twenty percent (20%) discount from all establishments
relative to the utilization of all services in hotels and similar lodging
establishments; restaurants and recreation centers for the exclusive
use or enjoyment of persons with disability;
(b) A minimum of twenty percent (20%) discount on admission fees
charged by theaters, cinema houses, concert halls, circuses, carnivals
and other similar places of culture, leisure and amusement for the
exclusive use of enjoyment of persons with disability;
(c) At least twenty percent (20%) discount for the purchase of
medicines in all drugstores for the exclusive use or enjoyment of
persons with disability;
(d) At least twenty percent (20%) discount on medical and dental
services including diagnostic and laboratory fees such as, but not
limited to, x-rays, computerized tomography scans and blood tests, in
all government facilities, subject to guidelines to be issued by the
Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with the Philippine Health
Insurance Corporation (PHILHEALTH);

(e) At least twenty percent (20%) discount on medical and dental

services including diagnostic and laboratory fees, and professional fees
of attending doctors in all private hospitals and medical facilities, in
accordance with the rules and regulations to be issued by the DOH, in
coordination with the PHILHEALTH;
(f) At least twenty percent (20%) discount on fare for domestic air and
sea travel for the exclusive use or enjoyment of persons with disability;
(g) At least twenty percent (20%) discount in public railways, skyways
and bus fare for the exclusive use and enjoyment of person with
disability;
(h) Educational assistance to persons with disability, for them to
pursue primary, secondary, tertiary, post tertiary, as well as vocational
or technical education, in both public and private schools, through the
provision of scholarships, grants, financial aids, subsidies and other
incentives to qualified persons with disability, including support for
books, learning material, and uniform allowance to the extent feasible:
Provided, That persons with disability shall meet minimum admission
requirements;
(i) To the extent practicable and feasible, the continuance of the same
benefits and privileges given by the Government Service Insurance
System (GSIS), Social Security System (SSS), and PAG-IBIG, as the
case may be, as are enjoyed by those in actual service;
(j) To the extent possible, the government may grant special discounts
in special programs for persons with disability on purchase of basic
commodities, subject to guidelines to be issued for the purpose by the
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of
Agricultural (DA); and
(k) Provision of express lanes for persons with disability in all
commercial and government establishments; in the absence thereof,
priority shall be given to them.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9547
AN ACT STRENGTHENING AND EXPANDING THE COVERAGE
OF THE SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR EMPLOYMENT OF STUDENTS,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE PROVISIONS OF R.A. NO.
7323, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR
EMPLOYMENT OF STUDENTS
SECTION 1. Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, any
person or entity employing at least ten (10) persons may employ
poor but deserving students fifteen (15) years of age but not
more than twenty-five (25) years old, paying them a salary or
wage not lower than the minimum wage for private employers
and the applicable hiring rate for the national and local government
agencies: Provided, that student enrolled in the secondary level shall
only be employed during summer and/or christmas vacations,
while those enrolled in the tertiary, vocational or technical
education may be employed at any time of the
year: Provided, further, That their period of employment shall be from
twenty (20) to fifty-two (52) working days only, except that
during Christmas vacation, employment shall be from ten (10)
to fifteen (15) days which may be counted as part of the
students' probationary period should they apply in the same
company or agency after graduation: Provided, finally, That students
employed in activities related to their course may earn equivalent
academic credits as may be determined by the appropriate
government agencies.
"For purposes of this Act, poor but deserving students refer to
those whose parents' combined income, together with their
own, if any, does not exceed the annual regional poverty
threshold level for a family of six (6) for the preceding year as
may be determined by the National Economic and Development
Authority (NEDA). Employment facilitation services for applicants to

Page 17 of 26

the program shall be done by the Public Employment Service

Office (PESO).
[

SEC. 2. Sixty per centum (60%) of the said salary or wage

shall be paid by the employers in cash and forty per
centum (40%) by the government in the form of a voucher
which shall be applicable in the payment for the students' tuition fees
and books in any educational institution for secondary, tertiary,
vocational or technical education: Provided, That local government
units (LGUs) may assume responsibility for paying in full his
salary or wages. The amount of the education vouchers shall be paid
by the government to the educational institutions concerned within
thirty (30) days from its presentation to the officer or agency
designated by the Secretary of Finance.
The vouchers shall not be transferable except when the
payees thereof dies or for a justifiable cause stops in his
duties, in which case it can be transferred to his brothers or sisters. If
there be none, the amount thereof shall be paid his heirs or to the
payee himself, as the case may be.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
[[

That the respondent had registered the petitioners with the Social
Security System is proof that they were indeed his employees. The
coverage of Social Security Law is predicated on the
existence of an employer-employee relationship (Flores v
Nuestro).
The power of control refers to the existence of the power and
not necessarily to the actual exercise thereof. It is not essential,
in other words, for the employer to actually supervise the performance
of duties of the employee; it is enough that the former has the right to
wield the power (Equitable Banking Corp v NLRC).
Where the employer-employee relationship was sufficiently proved by
testimonial evidence, the absence of time sheet, time record or
payroll has become inconsequential.
MODE OF COMPENSATION,
NOT A TEST OF EMPLOYMENT STATUS
The presence or absence of employer-employee relationship is not
determined by the basis of employees compensation. Employment
relationship is one thing, pay determination is another.

EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP AS CONDITION PRECEDENT

In determining the existence of an employer-employee relationship,

the elements that are generally considered are the following: (a) the
selection and engagement of the employee; (b) the payment of
wages; (c) the power of dismissal; and (d) the employer's power to
control the employee with respect to the means and methods by
which the work is to be accomplished. It. is the called "control test"
that is the most important element (Brotherhood Labor Unity
Movement v Zamora). Absent the power to control the employee
with respect to the means and methods by which his work is to be
accomplished, there is no employer-employee relationship between
the parties.
In general, we have relied on the so-called right of control test,
"where the person for whom the services are performed reserves a
right to control not only the end to be achieved but also the
means to be used in reaching such end." Subsequently,
however, we have considered, in addition to the standard of right-of
control, the existing economic conditions prevailing between
the parties, like the inclusion of the employee in the payrolls, in
determining the existence of an employer-employee relationship x x x
Employment is determined by the right of control test and
certain economic parameters. Titles are weak indicators
(Sevilla v CA).
TWO-TIERED APPROACH AND ECONOMIC DEPENDENCE TEST
The better approach therefore would be to adopt a two-tiered test
involving: (1) the putative employers power to control the
employee with respect to the means and methods by which the work
is to be accomplished; and (2) underlying economic realities of
the activity or relationship.
EVIDENCE OF EMPLOYMENT: ID, VOUCHERS, SSS
REGISTRATION, MEMORANDUM
In administrative and quasi-judicial proceedings, substantial
evidence is sufficient as a basis for judgment on the existence
of employer-employee relationship. x x x In a business
establishment, an identification card is usually provided not only as
a security measure but mainly to identify the holder thereof as
a bona fide employee of the firm that issues it (Domasig v
NLRC).

The nature of employment (pakiao basis) does not make one an

independent contractor. Pakiao workers are considered employees as
long as the employer exercises control over the means by which such
workers are to perform their work.
EXISTENCE OF EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP DETERMINED
BY LAW, NOT BY CONTRACT
Even if the parties call their contract a Contract of Lease of Service,
the factual existence of an employer-employee relationship will still
prevail.
INSURANCE AGENTS
An insurance company may have two classes of agents who sell its
insurance policies: (1) salaried employees who keep definite hours
and work under the control and supervision of the company; (2)
registered representatives who work on commission basis.
Anent the issue of exclusivity in the case at bar, the fact that private
respondent was required to solicit business exclusively for petitioner
could hardly be considered as control in labor jurisprudence. x x x
insurance agents are barred from serving more than one insurance
company, in order to protect the public and to enable insurance
companies to exercise exclusive supervision over their agents in their
solicitation work. Thus, the exclusivity restriction clearly springs
from a regulation issued by the Insurance Commission, and
not from an intention by petitioner to establish control over
the method and manner by which private respondent shall
accomplish his work (AFP v NLRC).
The test to determine the existence of independent
contractorship is whether one claiming to be an independent
contractor has contracted to do the work according to his own
methods and without being subject to the control of the employer
except only as to the result of the work (AFP v NLRC).
JEEPNEY DRIVER, TAXI DRIVER, BARBER
The relationship between jeepney owners/operators on one hand
and jeepney drivers on the other under the boundary system is
that of employer-employee and not of lessor-lessee. x x x The fact
that the drivers do not receive fixed wages but get only that in excess
of the so-called boundary they pay to the owner/operator is not

Page 18 of 26

sufficient to withdraw the relationship between them from that of

employer and employee (Jardin v NLRC).
Even the boundary-hulog contract between the jeepney owner and
the jeepney driver does not negate the employer-employee
relationship between them.

LABOR-ONLY CONTRACTING an arrangement where the

contractor or subcontractor merely recruits, supplies or places workers
to perform a job, work or service for a principal, and any of the
following elements are present:
1)

The contractor or subcontractor does not have substantial

capital or investment which relates to the job, work or
service to be performed

2)

The employees recruited, supplied or placed by such

contractor or subcontractor are performing activities which
are directly related to the main business of the principal; or

3)

The contractor does not exercise the right to control over

the performance of the work of the contractual employee.

PIECE-RATE WORKERS
They are not entitled to service incentive leave pay because as
piece-rate workers being paid at a fixed amount for performing work
irrespective of time consumed in the performance thereof they fall
under one of the exceptions stated in Section 1(d), Rule V,
Implementing Regulations, Book III, Labor Code (Makati
Haberdashery v NLRC).
LABOR UNION AND UNREGISTERED ASSOCIATION
AS EMPLOYER
The mere fact that the respondent is a labor union does not
mean that it cannot be considered an employer of the
persons who work for it. Much less should it be exempted from
the very labor laws which it espouses as labor organization (Bautista
v Inciong).
WHEN EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP ABSENT; JOB
CONTRACTING OR INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORSHIP

A job contractor is self-employed or an employer to others. In the

latter case, the law validates this trilateral set-up only if the contractor
himself is bona fide employer-businessman or firm. While Labor-only
contractor does not really hire people, but merely recruits and supplies
people.
Employer-employee relationship exists between the job contractor
and the people he hires; on the other hand, in labor-only contracting
the employer-employee relationship is between the workers and the
enterprise to which they are supplied.
CORE OR NON-CORE JOBS: It does not follow that the worker is a
job contractor, not an employee, just because the work he is doing is
not directly related to the employers trade or business or because
the work may be considered as merely housekeeping. Similarly, the
worker is not necessarily an employee just because the work he is
doing is directly related to the trade or business of the alleged
employer (Phil Fuji v NLRC).
GENERAL RIGHT OF EMPLOYER
OVER CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
So long as a company's management prerogatives are exercised in
good faith for the advancement of the employer's interest and not for
the purpose of defeating or circumventing the rights of the
employees under special laws or under valid agreements, this Court
will uphold them (San Miguel Brewery v Ople).
XXX
The specific selection and hiring of SONZA, because of his unique
skills, talent and celebrity status not possessed by ordinary
employees, is a circumstance indicative, but not conclusive, of
an independent contractual relationship (Sonza v ABS-CBN).
Being an exclusive talent does not by itself mean that SONZA is an
employee of ABS-CBN. Even an independent contractor can
validly provide his services exclusively to the hiring party. In
the broadcast industry, exclusivity is not necessarily the same as
control (Sonza v ABS-CBN).
There are two kinds of regular employees under the law: (1)
those engaged to perform activities which are necessary or
desirable in the usual business or trade of the employer; and
(2) those casual employees who have rendered at least one year
of service, whether continuous or broken, with respect to the
activities in which they are employed (ABS-CBN v NAZARENO).

CONTRACTING OR SUBCONTRACTING an arrangement whereby

a principal agrees to put out or farm out with a contractor or
subcontractor the performance or completion of a specific job, work or
service within a definite or predetermined period, regardless of
whether such job, work or service is to be performed or completed
within or outside the premises of the principal.

Page 19 of 26

EXCLUDED EMPLOYEES

which include hours of work, weekly rest periods, holidays, service

incentive leaves and service charges (Dela Cruz v NLRC).

Art. 82. Coverage.

The provisions of this Title shall apply to employees in all
establishments and undertakings whether for profit or not, but not to
government employees, managerial employees, field personnel,
members of the family of the employer who are dependent on him
for support, domestic helpers, persons in the personal service of
another, and workers who are paid by results as determined by the
Secretary of Labor in appropriate regulations.
Government employees are governed by the CS rules and
regulations. But this exclusion does not refer to employees of
government agencies and government corporations that are
incorporate under the Corporation Code.
As regards, public health workers, RA 7305 applies.
Managerial employee in Article 82 includes supervisors, but not
under Article 212 (m).
Management employees are excluded if they meet ALL of the
following conditions:
1)

Their primary duty consists of the management of the

establishment in which they are employed or of a
department or subdivision thereof

2)

They customarily and regularly direct the work of two or

more employees therein

3)

They have authority to hire or fire other employees of lower

rank; or their suggestions and recommendations as to the
hiring and firing and as to the promotion or any other
change of status of other employees are given particular
weight

Officers or members of managerial staff are excluded if they

perform the following duties and responsibilities:

Mp Di A St Sat

1)

Primary duty consists of performance of work directly related

to management policies of employer

2)

Customarily and regularly

independent judgment

3)

(a) Regularly and directly assist a proprietor or a managerial

employee; (b) Execute under general supervision work along
specialized or technical lines requiring special training,
experience or knowledge; (c) execute under general
supervision special assignments and tasks; and

4)

exercise

discretion

and

Who do not devote more than 20% of their hours worked in

a workweek to activities which are not directly and closely
related to the performance of work in 1-3 above.

As used herein, "managerial employees" refer to those whose

primary duty consists of the management of the establishment in
which they are employed or of a department or subdivision thereof,
and to other officers or members of the managerial staff.
"Field personnel" shall refer to non-agricultural employees who
regularly perform their duties away from the principal place of
business or branch office of the employer and whose actual hours of
work in the field cannot be determined with reasonable certainty

A managerial employee is therefore excluded from the

coverage of the law as regards conditions of employment

Members of respondent union discharge duties and responsibilities

which ineluctably qualify them as officers or members of the
managerial staff, as defined in Section 2, Rule I Book III of the
aforestated Rules to Implement the Labor Code, viz.: (1) their primary
duty consists of the performance of work directly related to
management policies of their employer; (2) they customarily and
regularly exercise discretion and independent judgment; (3) they
regularly and directly assist the managerial employee whose primary
duty consist of the management of a department of the establishment
in which they are employed (4) they execute, under general
supervision, work along specialized or technical lines requiring special
training, experience, or knowledge; (5) they execute, under general
supervision, special assignments and tasks; and (6) they do not devote
more than 20% of their hours worked in a work-week to activities
which are not directly and clearly related to the performance of their
work hereinbefore described (National Sugar v NLRC).
OUTSIDE OR FIELD SALES PERSONNEL
The definition of field personnel is not merely concerned with the
location where the employee regularly performs his duties but also
with the fact that the employees performance is unsupervised by the
employer.
Eight-Hour Labor Law only has application where an
employee or laborer is paid on a monthly or daily basis, or is
paid a monthly or daily compensation. This law has no
application when the employee or laborer is paid on a piece-work,
"pakiao", or commission basis, regardless of the time employed (San
Miguel v Democratic Labor).
Fishermen are not field personnel since throughout the duration
of their work; they are under the effective control and supervision of
the employer. (Mercidar Fishing Corp. v. NLRC)
It is of judicial notice that along the routes that are plied by bus
companies, there are its inspectors assigned in strategic places,
20mandatory once-a-week car barn or shop day, drivers/conductors must
be at a specific place at a specific time, as they generally observe
prompt departure and arrival from their point of origin to their point of
destination. They are under the constant supervision while in
the performance of this work. Thus, drivers/conductors are
not field personnel. (Autobus Transport Systems Inc. v.
Bautista)
DOMESTIC HELPER & PERSONS RENDERING
PERSONAL SERVINCE
House personnel hired by a ranking company official, a
foreigner, but paid for by the company itself, to maintain a staff
house provided for the official, are not the latter's domestic helpers
but regular employees of the company (Cadiz v Phil Sinter).
Waiters of a hotel do not fall under the term 'domestic servants
and persons in the personal service of another,' nor under the terms
'farm laborers,' 'laborers who prefer to be paid on piece work basis,'
and 'members of the family of the employer working for him;'
therefore, they do not fall within any of the exceptions provided for in
Section 2 of CA 44, and their work is within the scope of 8 hour labor
law (Rosales v Tan).
WORKERS PAID BY RESULT
Examples of workers paid by result are piece-rate workers in
coconut industry and taxi driver who is not observing any working
hours.

Page 20 of 26

HOURS WORKED
Art. 83. Normal hours of work.
The normal hours of work of any employee shall not exceed eight
(8) hours a day.
Health personnel in cities and municipalities with a population of at
least one million (1,000,000) or in hospitals and clinics with a bed
capacity of at least one hundred (100) shall hold regular office hours
for eight (8) hours a day, for five (5) days a week, exclusive of
time for meals, except where the exigencies of the service require
that such personnel work for six (6) days or forty-eight (48)
hours, in which case, they shall be entitled to an additional
compensation of at least thirty percent (30%) of their regular
wage for work on the sixth day. For purposes of this Article,
"health personnel" shall include resident physicians, nurses,
nutritionists, dietitians, pharmacists, social workers, laboratory
technicians, paramedical technicians, psychologists, midwives,
attendants and all other hospital or clinic personnel.
PURPOSE: Not only to safeguard the health and welfare of the
laborer or employee, but in a way to minimize unemployment
by forcing employers, in cases where more than 8 hour operation is
necessary, to utilize different shifts of laborers or employees working
for only 8 hours each
It is not prohibited to have normal hours of work less than 8 hours a
day.
Through a contract freely entered into, the work shift may exceed 8
hours, with corresponding overtime pay. Such arrangement is valid
and binding. (San Juan v NLRC)
Medical secretaries are also considered clinic personnel.
The 40 hour workweek of physicians would not be applicable if there
is a training agreement between the resident physician and the
hospital and the training program is duly accredited or approved by
the appropriate government agency.
The Manila Medical Society is not embraced in the definition and is
not limited to 40 hour workweek because it does not perform any
diagnosis, treatment and care of patients.
Art. 84. Hours worked.
Hours worked shall include (a) all time during which an employee
is required to be on duty or to be at a prescribed workplace;
and (b) all time during which an employee is suffered or
permitted to work.
Rest periods of short duration during working hours shall be counted
as hours worked.
IRR BOOK 3 RULE 1
SECTION 3. Hours worked. The following shall be considered as
compensable hours worked: (a) All time during which an employee is
required to be on duty or to be at the employer's premises or to be at
a prescribed work place; and (b) All time during which an employee is
suffered or permitted to work.
SECTION 4. Principles in determining hours worked. The
following general principles shall govern in determining whether the
time spent by an employee is considered hours worked for purposes of
this Rule:

(a) All hours are hours worked which the employee is required
to give his employer, regardless of whether or not such hours are
spent in productive labor or involve physical or mental exertion.
(b) An employee need not leave the premises of the work
place in order that his rest period shall not be counted, it being
enough that he stops working, may rest completely and may leave his
work place, to go elsewhere, whether within or outside the premises of
his work place.
(c) If the work performed was necessary, or it benefited the
employer, or the employee could not abandon his work at the
end of his normal working hours because he had no
replacement, all time spent for such work shall be considered as
hours worked, if the work was with the knowledge of his employer or
immediate supervisor.
(d) The time during which an employee is inactive by reason of
interruptions in his work beyond his control shall be considered
working time either if the imminence of the resumption of work
requires the employee's presence at the place of work or if the interval
is too brief to be utilized effectively and gainfully in the employee's
own interest.
Preliminary activities and postliminary activities are deemed
performed during working hours, where such activities are controlled
or required by the employer and are pursued necessarily and
primarily for the employer's benefit.
SECTION 5. Waiting time.
(a) Waiting time spent by an employee shall be considered as working
time if waiting is an integral part of his work or the employee is
required or engaged by the employer to wait.
(b) An employee who is required to remain on call in the employer's
premises or so close thereto that he cannot use the time
effectively and gainfully for his own purpose shall be considered
as working while on call. An employee who is not required to leave
word at his home or with company officials where he may be
reached is not working while on call.
The controlling factor is whether waiting time spent in
idleness is so spent predominantly for the employer's benefit
or for the employee's.
Sleeping time may be considered working time if it is subject
to serious interruption or takes place under conditions
substantially less desirable than would be likely to exist at employee's
home.
When the work is not continuous, the time when laborer can
leave his work and rest completely shall not be counted in
computation. However, although the laborers can rest completely
and may not be actually at work, if they are required to be in their
place of work before or after the regular working hours and within
the call of their employers, the time they stay in the place of work
should not be discounted from their working hours.
For public health workers, it shall not be considered as hours worked
but shall entitle them to an on call pay equivalent to 50% of his/her
regular wage.
If an employee is kept within reach through a mobile telephone or
other contact device, the employee is not at work beyond his regular
work hours.
The legal working day for any person employed by another shall be
of not more than eight hours daily. When the work is not
continuous, the time during which the laborer is not working

Page 21 of 26

and can leave his working place and can rest completely shall
not be counted (National Development v CIR).
TRAVEL TIME
1) Travel from home to work - Generally, it not work time but when
an employee receives an emergency call outside of his regular working
hours and is required to travel to his regular place of business or some
other work site, all of the time spent in such travel is working time.
2) Travel that is all in the day's work - It must be counted as
hours worked.
3) Travel away from home - It is work time when it cuts across the
employee's work day. The time is hours worked not only on regular
working days during normal working hours but also during the
corresponding hours on nonworking days.

Time spent in adjusting grievance between employer and

employees during the time the employees are required by the
employer to be on the premises is hours worked.
SEMESTRAL BREAK
Semestral break of teachers is compensable hours worked for it is a
form of interruption beyond their control. It applies only for regular
full-time teachers. (Univ. of Pangasinan Faculty Union v. Univ. of
Pangasinan)
WORK HOURS OF SEAMEN
The correct criterion in determining whether or not sailors
are entitled to overtime pay is not, therefore, whether they were
on board and cannot leave ship beyond the regular eight working
hours a day, but whether they actually rendered service in
excess of said number of hours.
Seamen are required to stay on board their vessels by the very
nature of their duties, and it is for this reason that, in addition to their
regular compensation, they are given free living quarters and
subsistence allowances when required to be on board. It could not
have been the purpose of our law to require their employers to pay
them overtime even when they are not actually working; otherwise,
every sailor on board a vessel would be entitled to overtime for
sixteen hours each day, even if he had spent all those hours resting
or sleeping in his bunk, after his regular tour of duty (National
Shipyard v CIR).
For the purposes of this case, we do not need to set for seamen
a criterion different from that applied to laborers on land, for
under the provisions of the above quoted section, the only thing to
be done is to determine the meaning and scope of the term
"working place" used therein. As we understand this term, a
laborer need not leave the premises of the factory shop or boat in
order that his period of rest shall not be counted, it being enough
that he "cease to work", may rest completely and leave or may leave
at his will the spot where he actually stays while working, to go
somewhere else, whether within or outside the premises of said
factory, shop or boat. If these requisites are complied with, the
period of such rest shall not be counted. (Luzon Stevedoring v
Luzon Marine)
MEAL PERIODS
Art. 85. Meal periods.
Subject to such regulations as the Secretary of Labor may prescribe, it
shall be the duty of every employer to give his employees not less
than sixty (60) minutes time-off for their regular meals.
SECTION 7. Meal and Rest Periods.

LECTURES, MEETINGS, TRAINING PROGRAMS

SECTION 6. Lectures, meetings, training programs.
Attendance at lectures, meetings, training programs, and other similar
activities shall not be counted as working time if all of the
following conditions are met:
(a) Attendance is outside of the employee's regular working
hours; (b) Attendance is in fact voluntary; and (c) The employee
does not perform any productive work during such
attendance.

Every employer shall give his employees, regardless of sex, not less
than one (1) hour time-off for regular meals, except in the
following cases when a meal period of not less than twenty (20)
minutes may be given by the employer provided that such shorter
meal period is credited as compensable hours worked of the
employee:

M 16 Eu Np

(a) Where the work is non-manual work in nature or does not

involve strenuous physical exertion;
(b) Where the establishment regularly operates not less than
sixteen (16) hours a day;
(c) In case of actual or impending emergencies or there is urgent
work to be performed on machineries, equipment or installations to
avoid serious loss which the employer would otherwise suffer; and

Page 22 of 26

(d) Where the work is necessary to prevent serious loss of

perishable goods.
Rest periods or coffee breaks running from five (5) to twenty
(20) minutes shall be considered as compensable working
time.
The meal time is not compensable if he is completely freed
from duties during his meal period even though he remains in the
workplace.

Employees NOT Covered by NSD:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

When work is continuous for several shifts, the meal time

breaks should be counted as working time for purposes of
overtime compensation.
To shorten meal time to less than 20 minutes is not allowed. If
it is, it becomes only a rest period and is considered a
working time.
The employees themselves may request that their meal be
shortened so that they can leave work earlier than the previously
established schedule. In such a situation, the shortened meal
period is not compensable.
Conditions for such arrangement:

ADS BOT

1) Employees voluntarily agree in writing and are willing to

waiver overtime pay for shortened meal period

The fact that Santos neglected to substantiate his claim for

night shift differentials is not prejudicial to his cause. After all,
the burden of proving payment rests on petitioner NSC. Santos'
allegation of non-payment of this benefit, to which he is by law
entitled, is a negative allegation which need not be supported by
evidence unless it is an essential part of his cause of action. It must
be noted that his main cause of action is his illegal dismissal, and the
claim for night shift differential is but an incident of the protest
against such dismissal. Thus, the burden of proving that
payment of such benefit has been made rests upon the party
who will suffer if no evidence at all is presented by either
party (National Semiconductor v NLRC).

2) No diminution in the salary or fringe benefits

3) Work does not involve strenuous physical exertion and
are provided adequate coffee breaks in the morning and
afternoon
4) Value of benefits in the proposed work arrangement is
equal to or commensurate with compensation due them for
shortened meal period and overtime pay
5) Overtime pay to be come due and demandable if
permitted or made to work beyond the arrangement
6) Effectivity shall be of temporary duration
The right to fix the work schedules of the employees rests principally
on their employer (Sime Darby v NLRC).
NIGHT SHIFT DIFFERENTIALS
Art. 86. Night shift differential.
Every employee shall be paid a night shift differential of not less than
ten percent (10%) of his regular wage for each hour of work
performed between ten oclock in the evening and six oclock in
the morning.

Computing Overtime on Night Shift:

Those of the government and any of its political

subdivisions, including government-owned and/or controlled
corporations
Those of retail and service establishments regularly
employing not more than 5 workers
Domestic helpers and persons in the personal service
of another
Managerial employees
Field personnel and other employees whose time and
performance is unsupervised by the employer including
those who are engaged on task or contract basis, purely
commission basis, or those who are paid a fixed amount
for performing work irrespective of the time consumed in the
performance thereof

OVERTIME WORK
Art. 87. Overtime work.
Work may be performed beyond eight (8) hours a day provided that
the employee is paid for the overtime work, an additional
compensation equivalent to his regular wage plus at least
twenty-five percent (25%) thereof. Work performed beyond eight
hours on a holiday or rest day shall be paid an additional
compensation equivalent to the rate of the first eight hours on
a holiday or rest day plus at least thirty percent (30%)
thereof.
Overtime compensation is additional pay for service or work
rendered or performed in excess of 8 hours a day by
employees or laborers in employment covered by 8 hour labor law
and not exempt from its requirements. It is computed by multiplying
the overtime hourly work rate by the number of hours worked in
excess of eight. (National Shipyards v CIR)
RATIONALE: Verily, there can be no other reason than that he is
made to work longer than what is commensurate with his agreed
compensation for the statutorily fixed or voluntarily agreed hours of
labor he is supposed to do (PNB v PEMA & CIR).
Since the overtime work is considered hourly, the pay rate is
computed also on per hour basis. The daily wage is divided by
8 to get the hourly base rate.
If employee is paid on a monthly salary basis, the daily rate is
obtained by the following formula:

On ordinary day (110% x overtime hourly rate)

On rest day, special day or regular holiday (110% x overtime
hourly rate for rest days, special days, regular holidays)
Conditions to be entitled to overtime pay:
1)

Actual rendition of overtime work

Page 23 of 26

2)
3)

Submission of sufficient proof that said work was actually

performed
Overtime work is with the knowledge and consent of the
employer

Doctrinally, We hold that, in the absence of any specific provision on

the matter in a collective bargaining agreement, what are decisive in
determining the basis for the computation of overtime pay are two
very germane considerations, namely, (1) whether or not the
additional pay is for extra work done or service rendered and
(2) whether or not the same is intended to be permanent and
regular, not contingent nor temporary and given only to remedy a
situation which can change any time. We reiterate, overtime pay is
for extra effort beyond that contemplated in the employment
contract, hence when additional pay is given for any other
purpose, it is illogical to include the same in the basis for the
computation of overtime pay (PNB v PEMA).
OVERTIME RATE BASED ON REGULAR WAGE
The phrase "regular base pay" is clear, unequivocal and requires no
interpretation. It means regular basic pay and necessarily excludes
money received in different concepts such as Christmas bonus and
other fringe benefits (Bisig ng Manggagawa v PRC)
PREMIUM PAY; WHEN INCLUDED OR EXCLUDED IN
COMPUTING OVERTIME

end of his eight hour work because there was no substitute ready to
take his place and he performed overtime services upon the order of
his immediate superior, notwithstanding the fact that there was a
standing circular to the effect that before overtime work may be
performed with pay, the approval of the corresponding department
head should be secured, such overtime services are
compensable inspite of the fact that said overtime services
were rendered without the prior approval of the Department
Head (Manila Railroad v CIR).
A verbal instruction to render overtime work prevails over a
memorandum prohibiting such work (AL Ammen v Borja).
A claim for overtime pay is not justified in the absence of a written
authority to render overtime after office hours during
Sundays and holidays (Global v Atienza).
Neither is overtime claim justified for days where no work was
required and no work could be done by the employees on account
of shutdown due to electrical power interruptions, machine repairs
and lack of raw materials (Durabuilt v NLRC).
ACTION TO RECOVER COMPENSATION
The principles of estoppel and laches cannot be invoked against
employees or laborers in an action for the recovery of compensation
for past overtime work.

General Rule: Premium pay for work performed on rest days,

special days or regular holidays is included as part of the regular rate
of the employee in the computation of overtime pay.
Exception: Unless there is an agreement (CBA) more favourable to
the worker
CONVERSION OF MONTHLY TO DAILY RATE;
ACTUAL WORK DAYS AS DIVISOR
Monthly salary x 12 / No. of actual working day = x (Basic daily rate)
x / 8 = Basic hourly rate
Such being the case, the divisor in computing an employee's
basic daily rate should be the actual working days in a year.
The number of off-days is not to be counted precisely because on
such off-days, an employee is not required to work (PALEA v PAL).

WAIVER OR QUITCLAIM; NO WAIVER OF OVERTIME PAY,

GENERALLY
Additional compensation for nighttime work is founded on public
policy, hence the same cannot be waived (Mercury Drug v Dayao).
Any stipulation in the contract that the laborer shall work beyond the
regular 8 hours without additional compensation for the extra hours
is contrary to law and null and void.
WHEN VALID; WAIVER IN EXCHANGE OF CERTAIN BENEFITS
There seems to be an exception to the rule that overtime
compensation cannot be waived. When the alleged waiver of
overtime pay is in consideration of benefits and privileges
which may be more than what will accrue to them in
overtime pay, the waiver may be permitted (MERALCO
WORKERS UNION v MERALCO)
OVERTIME PAY INTEGRATED IN BASIC SALARY

HOW WORK DAY COUNTED

It is understood to be the 24 hour period which commences from
the time the employee regularly starts to work.
BROKEN HOURS OF WORK - The minimum normal working hours
fixed by the Act need not be continuous to constitute as the legal
working day of 8 hours as long as the 8 hours is within a work day.
WORK IN DIFFERENT SHIFTS IN A WORK DAY - Work in excess
of 8 hours within a work day is considered as overtime regardless of
whether this is performed in a work shift other than that at which the
employee regularly works.
FACTUAL AND LEGAL BASIS OF CLAIM
An express instruction from the employer to the employee to
render overtime work is not required for the employee to be
entitled to overtime pay; it is sufficient that the employee is
permitted or suffered to work.
If the work performed was necessary, or that it benefited the
company or that the employee could not abandon his work at the

Requisites of base pay with integrated overtime pay:

1)
2)

Clear written agreement knowingly and freely entered into by

the employee
Mathematical result shows that the agreed legal wage rate and
the overtime pay, computed separately, are equal to or higher
than the separate amount legally due
BUILT-IN OVERTIME PAY
IN GOVERNMENT APPROVED CONTRACT

Nonpayment by the employer of overtime pay to the employee was

valid, as said overtime pay was already provided in the written
contract with built-in overtime pay and signed by the Director of
the Bureau of Employment Services and enforced by employer
(Engineering Equipment v MOLE).
COMPRESSED WORK WEEK
Another instance of waiver of overtime pay is the compressed work
week.

Page 24 of 26

CWW is an alternative arrangement whereby the normal workweek is

reduced to less than 6 days but the total number of normal work
hours per week shall remain at 48 hours
Resorted to by the employer to prevent serious losses due to causes
beyond his control, such as when there is substantial slump in demand
for his goods and services or when there is lack of raw materials.
Conditions for the validity of the CWW:
1)
2)

3)

The scheme is expressly and voluntarily supported by

majority of the employees affected.
In firms using substances or operating in conditions
hazardous to health, a certification is needed from an
accredited safety organization or the firms safety
committee that work beyond 8 hours is within the limits or
levels of exposure set by DOLEs occupational safety and
health standards
DOLE regional office is duly notified.

Effects of CWW arrangement:

1)

2)
3)

Unless there is a more favourable practice existing in the

firm, work beyond 8 hours will not be compensable by
overtime premium provided the total number of hours work
per day shall not exceed 12 hours.
Employees are entitled to meal periods not less than 60
minutes. Right to rest day, holiday pay, rest day pay or
leaves shall not be impaired.
No diminution of benefits. Reversion to normal 8 hour work
days shall not constitute diminution of benefits.
FLEXIBLE WORK ARRANGEMENTS

It is considered as a better alternative than the outright termination

of the services of employee or the closure of the establishment.

RRFF

It shall be temporary.

Reduction of workdays normal workdays per week are

reduced but should not last for more than 6 months
Rotation of workers employees are rotated or
alternately provided work within the workweek
Forced leave employees are required to go on leave for
several days or weeks, utilizing their leave credits if there
are any
Flexi-holiday schedule employees agree to avail
themselves of the holidays at some other days, provided
that there is no diminution of existing benefits as a result of
such arrangement
EXAMPLES
Assuming that the minimum wage rate is P250, how much is the
overtime rate per hour?
Regular hourly rate = Minumum wage rate 8 hours
= P250 8 hours
= P31.25 per hour
Overtime rate = Regular hourly rate + 25% of Regular hourly rate
Overtime rate = P31.25 + (25% of P31.25)
= P31.25 x 1.25
= P39.06 per hour
How about if it falls on a rest day or special day?
Hourly rate = 130% of Regular hourly rate
= P31.25 x 1.30
= P40.625 per hour

Overtime rate = Hourly rate on rest day + 30% Hourly rate on rest
day
= P40.625 + (30% of P40.625)
= P40.625 x 1.30
= P52.81 per hour
How about if it the rest day falls on a special day?
Hourly rate = 150% of Regular hourly rate
= P31.25 x 1.50
= P46.875 per hour
Overtime rate = Hourly rate + 30% of Hourly rate
= P46.875 + (30% of P46.875)
= P46.875 x 1.30
= P60.94 per hour
How about if it falls on a regular holiday?
Hourly rate = 200% of Regular hourly rate
= P31.25 x 2
= P62.5 per hour
Overtime rate = Hourly rate + 30% of Hourly rate
= P62.50 + (30% of P62.50)
= P62.50 x 1.30
= P81.25 per hour
How about if it falls on a rest day on regular holiday?
Hourly rate = 260% of Regular hourly rate
= P31.25 x 2.60
= P81.25 per hour
Overtime rate = Hourly rate + 30% of Hourly rate
= P81.25 + (30% of P81.25)
= P81.25 x 1.30
= P105.625 per hour
UNDERTIME v OVERTIME
Art. 88. Undertime not offset by overtime.
Undertime work on any particular day shall not be offset by
overtime work on any other day. Permission given to the
employee to go on leave on some other day of the week shall not
exempt the employer from paying the additional compensation
required in this Chapter.
Offsetting the undertime hours against the overtime hours would
result in the undue deprivation of the employee's overtime premium
(NWSA v NWSA Consolidated Union).
The situation is even more unacceptable where the undertime hours
are not only offset against the overtime hours but are also charged
against the accrued leave of the employee, for under this method the
employee is made to pay twice for his undertime hours because his
leave is reduced to that extent while he is made to pay for the
undertime hours with work beyond the regular working hours.
The proper method should be to deduct the undertime hours from
the accrued leave but to pay the employee the overtime
compensation to which he is entitled. Where the employee has
exhausted his leave credits, his undertime hours may simply be
deducted from his day's wage, but he should still be paid his overtime
compensation for work in excess of 8 hours a day.
EMERGENCY OVERTIME WORK

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Art. 89. Emergency overtime work.

WeLps UNC W

Any employee may be required by the employer to perform overtime

work in any of the following cases:
a. When the country is at war or when any other national or local
emergency has been declared by the National Assembly or the
Chief Executive;
b. When it is necessary to prevent loss of life or property or in
case of imminent danger to public safety due to an actual or
impending emergency in the locality caused by serious accidents, fire,
flood, typhoon, earthquake, epidemic, or other disaster or calamity;
c. When there is urgent work to be performed on machines,
installations, or equipment, in order to avoid serious loss or
damage to the employer or some other cause of similar nature;
d. When the work is necessary to prevent loss or damage to
perishable goods; and
e. Where the completion or continuation of the work started before the
eighth hour is necessary to prevent serious obstruction or
prejudice to the business or operations of the employer. Any
employee required to render overtime work under this Article shall be
paid the additional compensation required in this Chapter.
IRR BOOK 3 RULE 1
(f) When overtime work is necessary to avail of favorable weather
or environmental conditions where performance or quality of work
is dependent thereon.
COMPUTATION
Art. 90. Computation of additional compensation.
For purposes of computing overtime and other additional remuneration
as required by this Chapter, the "regular wage" of an employee
shall include the cash wage only, without deduction on
account of facilities provided by the employer.
Cash wage necessarily excludes noncash value of facilities.
But in Article 97(f), wage includes the value of facilities, hence the
value of facilities should not be excluded when computing overtime
pay.

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