Labor Code of the Philippines

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 442, AS AMENDED

A DECREE INSTITUTING A LABOR CODE THEREBY
REVISING AND CONSOLIDATING LABOR AND SOCIAL LAWS
TO AFFORD PROTECTION TO LABOR, PROMOTE
EMPLOYMENT AND HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT
AND INSURE INDUSTRIAL PEACE BASED ON SOCIAL
JUSTICE

PRELIMINARY TITLE

Chapter I - GENERAL PROVISIONS

Art. 1. Name of Decree. This Decree shall be known as the "Labor Code
of the Philippines".

Art. 2. Date of effectivity. This Code shall take effect six (6) months
after its promulgation.

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. The State shall assure the rights of workers to
self-organization, collective bargaining, security of tenure, and just and
humane conditions of work.

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.

Art. 5. Rules and regulations. The Department of Labor and other

government agencies charged with the administration and enforcement of
this Code or any of its parts shall promulgate the necessary implementing
rules and regulations. Such rules and regulations shall become effective
fifteen (15) days after announcement of their adoption in newspapers of
general circulation.
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. (As amended by
Presidential Decree No. 570-A, November 1, 1974)

Chapter IIEMANCIPATION OF TENANTS

Art. 7. Statement of objectives. Inasmuch as the old concept of land

ownership by a few has spawned valid and legitimate grievances that
gave rise to violent conflict and social tension and the redress of such
legitimate grievances being one of the fundamental objectives of the New
Society, it has become imperative to start reformation with the
emancipation of the tiller of the soil from his bondage.

Art. 8. Transfer of lands to tenant-workers. Being a vital part of the

labor force, tenant-farmers on private agricultural lands primarily devoted
to rice and corn under a system of share crop or lease tenancy whether
classified as landed estate or not shall be deemed owner of a portion
constituting a family-size farm of five (5) hectares, if not irrigated and
three (3) hectares, if irrigated.

In all cases, the land owner may retain an area of not more than seven (7)
hectares if such landowner is cultivating such area or will now cultivate
it.

Art. 9. Determination of land value. For the purpose of determining the

cost of the land to be transferred to the tenant-farmer, the value of the
land shall be equivalent to two and one-half (2-1/2) times the average
harvest of three (3) normal crop years immediately preceding the
promulgation of Presidential Decree No. 27 on October 21, 1972.

The total cost of the land, including interest at the rate of six percent (6%)
per annum, shall be paid by the tenant in fifteen (15) years of fifteen (15)
equal annual amortizations.

In case of default, the amortization due shall be paid by the farmers

cooperative in which the defaulting tenant-farmer is a member, with the
cooperative having a right of recourse against him.

The government shall guarantee such amortizations with shares of stock

in government-owned and government-controlled corporations.

Art. 10. Conditions of ownership. No title to the land acquired by the

tenant-farmer under Presidential Decree No. 27 shall be actually issued to
him unless and until he has become a full-fledged member of a duly
recognized farmers cooperative.

Title to the land acquired pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 27 or the

Land Reform Program of the Government shall not be transferable except
by hereditary succession or to the Government in accordance with the
provisions of Presidential Decree No. 27, the Code of Agrarian Reforms
and other existing laws and regulations.

Art. 11. Implementing agency. The Department of Agrarian Reform

shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement the
provisions of this Chapter.
BOOK ONE
PRE-EMPLOYMENT

Art. 12. Statement of objectives. It is the policy of the State:

a.To promote and maintain a state of full employment through improved

manpower training, allocation and utilization;
b.To protect every citizen desiring to work locally or overseas by
securing for him the best possible terms and conditions of
employment;
c.To facilitate a free choice of available employment by persons seeking
work in conformity with the national interest;
d.To facilitate and regulate the movement of workers in conformity with
the national interest;
e.To regulate the employment of aliens, including the establishment of a
registration and/or work permit system;
f. 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;
g.To insure careful selection of Filipino workers for overseas
employment in order to protect the good name of the Philippines
abroad.
Title IRECRUITMENT AND PLACEMENT OF WORKERS

Chapter IGENERAL PROVISIONS

Art. 13. Definitions.

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

unemployed.
b."Recruitment and placement" refers to any act of canvassing, enlisting,
contracting, transporting, utilizing, hiring or procuring workers,
and includes referrals, contract services, promising or advertising
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.
c."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.
d."License" means a document issued by the Department of Labor
authorizing a person or entity to operate a private employment
agency.
e."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.
f. "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.
g."Seaman" means any person employed in a vessel engaged in maritime
navigation.
h."Overseas employment" means employment of a worker outside the
Philippines.
i. "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.
Art. 14. Employment promotion. The Secretary of Labor shall have the
power and authority:

a.To organize and establish new employment offices in addition to the

 existing employment offices under the Department of Labor as the
need arises;
b.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;
c.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
d.To require any person, establishment, organization or institution to
submit such employment information as may be prescribed by the
Secretary of Labor.
Art. 15. Bureau of Employment Services.

a.The Bureau of Employment Services shall be primarily responsible for

developing and monitoring a comprehensive employment program.
It shall have the power and duty:
1. To formulate and develop plans and programs to implement the
employment promotion objectives of this Title;
2. To establish and maintain a registration and/or licensing system to
regulate private sector participation in the recruitment and
placement of workers, locally and overseas, and to secure the
best possible terms and conditions of employment for
Filipino contract workers and compliance therewith under
such rules and regulations as may be issued by the Minister
of Labor;
3. To formulate and develop employment programs designed to
benefit disadvantaged groups and communities;
4. To establish and maintain a registration and/or work permit system
to regulate the employment of aliens;
5. To develop a labor market information system in aid of proper
manpower and development planning;
6. To develop a responsive vocational guidance and testing system in
aid of proper human resources allocation; and
7. To maintain a central registry of skills, except seamen.
b.The regional offices of the Ministry of Labor shall have the original and
exclusive jurisdiction over all matters or cases involving employer-
employee relations including money claims, arising out of or by
virtue of any law or contracts involving Filipino workers for
overseas employment except seamen: Provided, That the Bureau of
Employment Services may, in the case of the National Capital
Region, exercise such power, whenever the Minister of Labor
 deems it appropriate. The decisions of the regional offices of the
Bureau of Employment Services, if so authorized by the Minister
of Labor as provided in this Article, shall be appealable to the
National Labor Relations Commission upon the same grounds
provided in Article 223 hereof. The decisions of the National Labor
Relations Commission shall be final and inappealable. (Superseded
by Exec. Order 797, May 1, 1982).
c.The Minister of Labor shall have the power to impose and collect fees
based on rates recommended by the Bureau of Employment
Services. Such fees shall be deposited in the National Treasury as a
special account of the General Fund, for the promotion of the
objectives of the Bureau of Employment Services, subject to the
provisions of Section 40 of Presidential Decree No. 1177.
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.

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:

1.To promote the overseas employment of Filipino workers through a

comprehensive market promotion and development program;
2.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;
3.To recruit and place workers for overseas employment on a
government-to-government arrangement and in such other sectors
as policy may dictate; and
4.To act as secretariat for the Board of Trustees of the Welfare and
Training Fund for Overseas Workers.
Art. 18. Ban on direct-hiring. No employer may hire a Filipino worker
for overseas employment except through the Boards and entities
authorized by the Secretary of Labor. 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.

Art. 19. Office of Emigrant Affairs.

a.Pursuant to the national policy to maintain close ties with Filipino
migrant communities and promote their welfare as well as establish
a data bank in aid of national manpower policy formulation, an
Office of Emigrant Affairs is hereby created in the Department of
Labor. The Office shall be a unit at the Office of the Secretary and
shall initially be manned and operated by such personnel and
through such funding as are available within the Department and
its attached agencies. Thereafter, its appropriation shall be made
part of the regular General Appropriations Decree.
b.The office shall, among others, promote the well-being of emigrants
and maintain their close link to the homeland by:
1. serving as a liaison with migrant communities;
2. provision of welfare and cultural services;
3. promote and facilitate re-integration of migrants into the national
mainstream;
4. promote economic; political and cultural ties with the
communities; and
5. generally to undertake such activities as may be appropriate to
enhance such cooperative links.
Art. 20. National Seamen Board.

a.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:
1. To provide free placement services for seamen;
2. 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;
3. To maintain a complete registry of all Filipino seamen.
b.The Board shall have original and exclusive jurisdiction over all
matters or cases including money claims, involving employer-
employee relations, arising out of or by virtue of any law or
contracts involving Filipino seamen for overseas employment. The
decisions of the Board shall be appealable to the National Labor
Relations Commission upon the same grounds provided in Article
223 hereof. The decisions of the National Labor Relations
Commission shall be final and inappealable.
Art. 21. Foreign service role and participation. To provide ample
protection to Filipino workers abroad, the labor attaches, the labor
reporting officers duly designated by the Secretary of Labor and the
Philippine diplomatic or consular officials concerned shall, even without
prior instruction or advice from the home office, exercise the power and
duty:

a.To provide all Filipino workers within their jurisdiction assistance on

all matters arising out of employment;
b.To insure that Filipino workers are not exploited or discriminated
against;
c.To verify and certify as requisite to authentication that the terms and
conditions of employment in contracts involving Filipino workers
are in accordance with the Labor Code and rules and regulations of
the Overseas Employment Development Board and National
Seamen Board;
d.To make continuing studies or researches and recommendations on the
various aspects of the employment market within their
jurisdiction;
e.To gather and analyze information on the employment situation and its
probable trends, and to make such information available; and
f. To perform such other duties as may be required of them from time to
time.
Art. 22. Mandatory remittance of foreign exchange earnings. It shall
be mandatory for all Filipino workers abroad to remit a portion of their
foreign exchange earnings to their families, dependents, and/or
beneficiaries in the country in accordance with rules and regulations
prescribed by the Secretary of Labor.

Art. 23. Composition of the Boards.

a.The OEDB shall be composed of the Secretary of Labor and

Employment as Chairman, the Undersecretary of Labor as Vice-
Chairman, and a representative each of the Department of Foreign
Affairs, the Department of National Defense, the Central Bank, the
Department of Education, Culture and Sports, the National
Manpower and Youth Council, the Bureau of Employment
Services, a workers organization and an employers organization
and the Executive Director of the OEDB as members.
b.The National Seamen Board shall be composed of the Secretary of
Labor and Employment as Chairman, the Undersecretary of Labor
as Vice-Chairman, the Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard,
and a representative each of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the
Department of Education, Culture and Sports, the Central Bank,
the Maritime Industry Authority, the Bureau of Employment
Services, a national shipping association and the Executive
Director of the NSB as members. The members of the Boards shall
 receive allowances to be determined by the Board which shall not
be more than P2,000.00 per month.
c.The Boards shall be attached to the Department of Labor for policy and
program coordination. They shall each be assisted by a Secretariat
headed by an Executive Director who shall be a Filipino citizen
with sufficient experience in manpower administration, including
overseas employment activities. The Executive Director shall be
appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the
recommendation of the Secretary of Labor and shall receive an
annual salary as fixed by law. The Secretary of Labor shall appoint
the other members of the Secretariat.
d.The Auditor General shall appoint his representative to the Boards to
audit their respective accounts in accordance with auditing laws
and pertinent rules and regulations.
Art. 24. Boards to issue rules and collect fees. The Boards shall issue
appropriate rules and regulations to carry out their functions. They shall
have the power to impose and collect fees from employers concerned,
which shall be deposited in the respective accounts of said Boards and be
used by them exclusively to promote their objectives.

Chapter IIREGULATION OF RECRUITMENT AND PLACEMENT

ACTIVITIES

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. 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.

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.

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. 30. Registration fees. The Secretary of Labor shall promulgate a

schedule of fees for the registration of all applicants for license or
authority.

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.

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.

Art. 33. Reports on employment status. Whenever the public interest

requires, the Secretary of Labor may direct all persons or entities within
the coverage of this Title to submit a report on the status of employment,
including job vacancies, details of job requisitions, separation from jobs,
wages, other terms and conditions and other employment data.

Art. 34. Prohibited practices. It shall be unlawful for any individual,

entity, licensee, or holder of authority:

a.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;
b.To furnish or publish any false notice or information or document in
 relation to recruitment or employment;
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 this Code.
d.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;
e.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;
f. 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;
g.To obstruct or attempt to obstruct inspection by the Secretary of Labor
or by his duly authorized representatives;
h.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.
i. 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;
j. 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
k.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.

Chapter IIIMISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Art. 36. Regulatory power. The Secretary of Labor shall have the power
to restrict and regulate the recruitment and placement activities of all
agencies within the coverage of this Title and is hereby authorized to
issue orders and promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the
objectives and implement the provisions of this Title.

Art. 37. Visitorial Power. The Secretary of Labor or his duly authorized
representatives may, at any time, inspect the premises, books of accounts
and records of any person or entity covered by this Title, require it to
submit reports regularly on prescribed forms, and act on violation of any
provisions of this Title.

Art. 38. Illegal recruitment.

a.Any recruitment activities, including the prohibited practices

enumerated under Article 34 of this Code, to be undertaken by non-
licensees 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.
b.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.
c.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.
Art. 39. Penalties.

a.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;
b.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;
c.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;
d.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;
e.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.

Title II-EMPLOYMENT OF NON-RESIDENT ALIENS

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 non-availability 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.

Art. 41. Prohibition against transfer of employment.

a.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.
b.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.
BOOK TWO
HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Title I-NATIONAL MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Chapter I
NATIONAL POLICIES AND ADMINISTRATIVE MACHINERY
FOR THEIR IMPLEMENTATION

Art. 43. Statement of objective. It is the objective of this Title to

develop human resources, establish training institutions, and formulate
such plans and programs as will ensure efficient allocation, development
and utilization of the nations manpower and thereby promote
employment and accelerate economic and social growth.

Art. 44. Definitions. As used in this Title:

h."Manpower" shall mean that portion of the nations population which

has actual or potential capability to contribute directly to the
production of goods and services.
i. "Entrepreneurship" shall mean training for self-employment or assisting
individual or small industries within the purview of this Title.
Art. 45. National Manpower and Youth Council; Composition. To
carry out the objectives of this Title, the National Manpower and Youth
Council, which is attached to the Department of Labor for policy and
program coordination and hereinafter referred to as the Council, shall be
composed of the Secretary of Labor as ex-officio chairman, the Secretary
of Education and Culture as ex-officio vice-chairman, and as ex-officio
members, the Secretary of Economic Planning, the Secretary of Natural
Resources, the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission, the Secretary
of Social Welfare, the Secretary of Local Government, the Secretary of
Science and Technology, the Secretary of Trade and Industry and the
Director-General of the Council. The Director General shall have no vote.

In addition, the President shall appoint the following members from the
private sector: two (2) representatives of national organizations of
employers; two (2) representatives of national workers organizations;
and one representative of national family and youth organizations, each
for a term of three (3) years.

Art. 46. National Manpower Plan. The Council shall formulate a long-
term national manpower plan for the optimum allocation, development
and utilization of manpower for employment, entrepreneurship and
economic and social growth. This manpower plan shall, after adoption by
the Council, be updated annually and submitted to the President for his
approval. Thereafter, it shall be the controlling plan for the development
of manpower resources for the entire country in accordance with the
national development plan. The Council shall call upon any agency of the
Government or the private sector to assist in this effort.

Art. 47. National Manpower Skills Center. The Council shall establish
a National Manpower Skills Center and regional and local training
centers for the purpose of promoting the development of skills. The
centers shall be administered and operated under such rules and
regulations as may be established by the Council.

Art. 48. Establishment and formulation of skills standards. There

shall be national skills standards for industry trades to be established by
the Council in consultation with employers and workers organizations
and appropriate government authorities. The Council shall thereafter
administer the national skills standards.

Art. 49. Administration of training programs. The Council shall

provide, through the Secretariat, instructor training, entrepreneurship
development, training in vocations, trades and other fields of
employment, and assist any employer or organization in training schemes
designed to attain its objectives under rules and regulations which the
Council shall establish for this purpose.
The Council shall exercise, through the Secretariat, authority and
jurisdiction over, and administer, on-going technical assistance programs
and/or grants-in-aid for manpower and youth development including
those which may be entered into between the Government of the
Philippines and international and foreign organizations and nations, as
well as persons and organizations in the Philippines.

In order to integrate the national manpower development efforts, all

manpower training schemes as provided for in this Code shall be
coordinated with the Council, particularly those having to do with the
setting of skills standards. For this purpose, existing manpower training
programs in the government and in the private sector shall be reported to
the Council which may regulate such programs to make them conform
with national development programs.

This Article shall not include apprentices, learners and handicapped

workers as governed by appropriate provisions of this Code.

Art. 50. Industry boards. The Council shall establish industry boards to
assist in the establishment of manpower development schemes, trades and
skills standards and such other functions as will provide direct
participation of employers and workers in the fulfillment of the Councils
objectives, in accordance with guidelines to be established by the Council
and in consultation with the National Economic and Development
Authority.

The maintenance and operations of the industry boards shall be financed

through a funding scheme under such rates of fees and manners of
collection and disbursements as may be determined by the Council.

Art. 51. Employment service training functions. The Council shall

utilize the employment service of the Department of Labor for the
placement of its graduates. The Bureau of Employment Services shall
render assistance to the Council in the measurement of unemployment
and underemployment, conduct of local manpower resource surveys and
occupational studies including an inventory of the labor force,
establishment and maintenance without charge of a national register of
technicians who have successfully completed a training program under
this Act, and skilled manpower including its publication, maintenance of
an adequate and up-to-date system of employment information.

Art. 52. Incentive Scheme. An additional deduction from taxable income

of one-half (1/2) of the value of labor training expenses incurred for
development programs shall be granted to the person or enterprise
concerned provided that such development programs, other than
apprenticeship, are approved by the Council and the deduction does not
exceed ten percent (10%) of the direct labor wage.

There shall be a review of the said scheme two years after its
implementation.

Art. 53. Council Secretariat. The Council shall have a Secretariat

headed by a Director-General who shall be assisted by a Deputy Director-
General, both of whom shall be career administrators appointed by the
President of the Philippines on recommendation of the Secretary of
Labor. The Secretariat shall be under the administrative supervision of the
Secretary of Labor and shall have an Office of Manpower Planning and
Development, an Office of Vocational Preparation, a National Manpower
Skills Center, regional manpower development offices and such other
offices as may be necessary.

The Director-General shall have the rank and emoluments of an

undersecretary and shall serve for a term of ten (10) years. The
Executive-Directors of the Office of Manpower Planning and
Development, the Office of Vocational Preparation and the National
Manpower Skills Center shall have the rank and emoluments of a bureau
director and shall be subject to Civil Service Law, rules and regulations.
The Director-General, Deputy Director-General and Executive Directors
shall be natural-born citizens, between thirty and fifty years of age at the
time of appointment, with a masters degree or its equivalent, and
experience in national planning and development of human resources.
The Executive Director of the National Manpower Skills Center shall, in
addition to the foregoing qualifications, have undergone training in center
management. Executive Directors shall be appointed by the President on
the recommendations of the Secretary of Labor and Employment.

The Director-General shall appoint such personnel necessary to carry out

the objectives, policies and functions of the Council subject to Civil
Service rules. The regular professional and technical personnel shall be
exempt from WAPCO rules and regulations.

The Secretariat shall have the following functions and responsibilities:

j. To prepare and recommend the manpower plan for approval by the

Council;
k.To recommend allocation of resources for the implementation of the
manpower plan as approved by the Council;
l. To carry out the manpower plan as the implementing arm of the
 Council;
m. To effect the efficient performance of the functions of the Council
and the achievement of the objectives of this Title;
n.To determine specific allocation of resources for the projects to be
undertaken pursuant to approved manpower plans;
o.To submit to the Council periodic reports on progress and
accomplishment of work programs;
p.To prepare for approval by the Council an annual report to the President
on plans, programs and projects on manpower and out-of-school
youth development;
q.To enter into agreements to implement approved plans and programs
and perform any and all such acts as will fulfill the objectives of
this Code as well as ensure the efficient performance of the
functions of the Council; and
r. To perform such other functions as may be authorized by the Council.
Art. 54. Regional manpower development offices. The Council shall
create regional manpower development offices which shall determine the
manpower needs of the industry, agriculture and other sectors of the
economy within their respective jurisdictions; provide the Councils
central planners with the data for updating the national manpower plan;
recommend programs for the regional level agencies engaged in
manpower and youth development within the policies formulated by the
Council; and administer and supervise Secretariat training programs
within the region and perform such other functions as may be authorized
by the Council.

Art. 55. Consultants and technical assistance, publication and

research. In pursuing its objectives, the Council is authorized to set aside
a portion of its appropriation for the hiring of the services of qualified
consultants, and/or private organizations for research work and
publication. It shall avail itself of the services of the Government as may
be required.

Art. 56. Rules and regulations. The Council shall define its broad
functions and issue appropriate rules and regulations necessary to
implement the provision of this Code.

Title II-TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OF SPECIAL WORKERS

Chapter I-APPRENTICES

Art. 57. Statement of objectives. This Title aims:

e.To help meet the demand of the economy for trained manpower;
f. To establish a national apprenticeship program through the participation
of employers, workers and government and non-government
agencies; and
g.To establish apprenticeship standards for the protection of apprentices.

Art. 58. Definition of Terms. As used in this Title:

d."Apprenticeship" means practical training on the job supplemented by

related theoretical instruction.
e.An "apprentice" is a worker who is covered by a written apprenticeship
agreement with an individual employer or any of the entities
recognized under this Chapter.
f. An "apprenticeable occupation" means any trade, form of employment
or occupation which requires more than three (3) months of
practical training on the job supplemented by related theoretical
instruction.
g."Apprenticeship agreement" is an employment contract wherein the
employer binds himself to train the apprentice and the apprentice in
turn accepts the terms of training.

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

person shall:

5.Be at least fourteen (14) years of age;

6.Possess vocational aptitude and capacity for appropriate tests; and
7.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. 60. Employment of apprentices. Only employers in the highly

technical industries may employ apprentices and only in apprenticeable
occupations approved by the Secretary of Labor and Employment. (As
amended by Section 1, Executive Order No. 111, December 24, 1986)

Art. 61. Contents of apprenticeship agreements. 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)

Art. 62. Signing of 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.

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.

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. 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:

c.Apprenticeship conducted entirely by and within the sponsoring firm,

establishment or entity;
d.Apprenticeship entirely within a Department of Labor and Employment
training center or other public training institution; or
e.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:

c.In the premises of the sponsoring employer in the case of individual

apprenticeship programs;
d.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
e.In a Department of Labor and Employment training center or other
public training institution.
Art. 65. Investigation of violation of apprenticeship agreement. 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.

Art. 68. Aptitude testing of applicants. 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.

Art. 69. Responsibility for theoretical instruction. 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.

g.The organization of apprenticeship program shall be primarily a

voluntary undertaking by employers;
h.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
i. 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.

Chapter II-LEARNERS

Art. 73. Learners defined. 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. 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.

Art. 75. Learnership agreement. Any employer desiring to employ

learners shall enter into a learnership agreement with them, which
agreement shall include:

e.The names and addresses of the learners;

f. The duration of the learnership period, which shall not exceed three (3)
months;
g.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
h.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.

Art. 77. Penalty clause. Any violation of this Chapter or its

implementing rules and regulations shall be subject to the general penalty
clause provided for in this Code.

Chapter III-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:

l. The names and addresses of the handicapped workers to be employed;

m. The rate to be paid the handicapped workers which shall not be less
than seventy five (75%) percent of the applicable legal minimum
wage;
n.The duration of employment period; and
o.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.

Labor Code of the Philippines

BOOK THREECONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Title IWORKING CONDITIONS AND REST PERIODS

Chapter I-HOURS OF WORK

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Art. 89. Emergency overtime work. 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.

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.

Chapter IIWEEKLY REST PERIODS

Art. 91. Right to weekly rest day.

a. It shall be the duty of every employer, whether operating for profit or

not, to provide each of his employees a rest period of not less than
twenty-four (24) consecutive hours after every six (6) consecutive
normal work days.
b.The employer shall determine and schedule the weekly rest day of his
employees subject to collective bargaining agreement and to such
rules and regulations as the Secretary of Labor and Employment
may provide. However, the employer shall respect the preference
of employees as to their weekly rest day when such preference is
based on religious grounds.
Art. 92. When employer may require work on a rest day. The
employer may require his employees to work on any day:

a.In case of actual or impending emergencies caused by serious accident,

fire, flood, typhoon, earthquake, epidemic or other disaster or
calamity to prevent loss of life and property, or imminent danger to
public safety;
b.In cases of urgent work to be performed on the machinery, equipment,
or installation, to avoid serious loss which the employer would
otherwise suffer;
c.In the event of abnormal pressure of work due to special circumstances,
where the employer cannot ordinarily be expected to resort to other
measures;
d.To prevent loss or damage to perishable goods;
e.Where the nature of the work requires continuous operations and the
stoppage of work may result in irreparable injury or loss to the
employer; and
f. Under other circumstances analogous or similar to the foregoing as
determined by the Secretary of Labor and Employment.
Art. 93. Compensation for rest day, Sunday or holiday work.

h.Where an employee is made or permitted to work on his scheduled rest

day, he shall be paid an additional compensation of at least thirty
percent (30%) of his regular wage. An employee shall be entitled to
such additional compensation for work performed on Sunday only
when it is his established rest day.
i. When the nature of the work of the employee is such that he has no
regular workdays and no regular rest days can be scheduled, he
shall be paid an additional compensation of at least thirty percent
(30%) of his regular wage for work performed on Sundays and
holidays.
j. Work performed on any special holiday shall be paid an additional
compensation of at least thirty percent (30%) of the regular wage
of the employee. Where such holiday work falls on the employees
scheduled rest day, he shall be entitled to an additional
compensation of at least fifty per cent (50%) of his regular wage.
k.Where the collective bargaining agreement or other applicable
employment contract stipulates the payment of a higher premium
pay than that prescribed under this Article, the employer shall pay
such higher rate.
Chapter IIIHOLIDAYS, SERVICE INCENTIVE LEAVES AND
SERVICE CHARGES

Art. 94. Right to holiday pay.

1.Every worker shall be paid his regular daily wage during regular
holidays, except in retail and service establishments regularly
employing less than ten (10) workers;
2.The employer may require an employee to work on any holiday but
such employee shall be paid a compensation equivalent to twice his
regular rate; and
3.As used in this Article, "holiday" includes: New Years Day, Maundy
Thursday, Good Friday, the ninth of April, the first of May, the
twelfth of June, the fourth of July, the thirtieth of November, the
twenty-fifth and thirtieth of December and the day designated by
law for holding a general election.
Art. 95. Right to service incentive leave.

f. Every employee who has rendered at least one year of service shall be
entitled to a yearly service incentive leave of five days with pay.
g.This provision shall not apply to those who are already enjoying the
benefit herein provided, those enjoying vacation leave with pay of
at least five days and those employed in establishments regularly
employing less than ten employees or in establishments exempted
from granting this benefit by the Secretary of Labor and
Employment after considering the viability or financial condition
of such establishment.
h.The grant of benefit in excess of that provided herein shall not be made
a subject of arbitration or any court or administrative action.
Art. 96. Service charges. All service charges collected by hotels,
restaurants and similar establishments shall be distributed at the rate of
eighty-five percent (85%) for all covered employees and fifteen percent
(15%) for management. The share of the employees shall be equally
distributed among them. In case the service charge is abolished, the share
of the covered employees shall be considered integrated in their wages.

Title IIWAGES

Chapter IPRELIMINARY MATTERS

Art. 97. Definitions. As used in this Title:

f. "Person" means an individual, partnership, association, corporation,

business trust, legal representatives, or any organized group of
persons.
g."Employer" includes any person acting directly or indirectly in the
interest of an employer in relation to an employee and shall include
the government and all its branches, subdivisions and
instrumentalities, all government-owned or controlled corporations
and institutions, as well as non-profit private institutions, or
organizations.
h."Employee" includes any individual employed by an employer.
i. "Agriculture" includes farming in all its branches and, among other
things, includes cultivation and tillage of soil, dairying, the
production, cultivation, growing and harvesting of any agricultural
and horticultural commodities, the raising of livestock or poultry,
and any practices performed by a farmer on a farm as an incident to
or in conjunction with such farming operations, but does not
include the manufacturing or processing of sugar, coconuts, abaca,
 tobacco, pineapples or other farm products.
j. "Employ" includes to suffer or permit to work.
k."Wage" paid to any employee shall mean the remuneration or earnings,
however designated, capable of being expressed in terms of money,
whether fixed or ascertained on a time, task, piece, or commission
basis, or other method of calculating the same, which is payable by
an employer to an employee under a written or unwritten contract
of employment for work done or to be done, or for services
rendered or to be rendered and includes the fair and reasonable
value, as determined by the Secretary of Labor and Employment,
of board, lodging, or other facilities customarily furnished by the
employer to the employee. "Fair and reasonable value" shall not
include any profit to the employer, or to any person affiliated with
the employer.
Art. 98. Application of Title. This Title shall not apply to farm tenancy
or leasehold, domestic service and persons working in their respective
homes in needle work or in any cottage industry duly registered in
accordance with law.

Chapter IIMINIMUM WAGE RATES

Art. 99. Regional minimum wages. The minimum wage rates for
agricultural and non-agricultural employees and workers in each and
every region of the country shall be those prescribed by the Regional
Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards. (As amended by Section 3,
Republic Act No. 6727, June 9, 1989).

Art. 100. Prohibition against elimination or diminution of benefits.

Nothing in this Book shall be construed to eliminate or in any way
diminish supplements, or other employee benefits being enjoyed at the
time of promulgation of this Code.

Art. 101. Payment by results.

j. The Secretary of Labor and Employment shall regulate the payment of

wages by results, including pakyao, piecework, and other non-time
work, in order to ensure the payment of fair and reasonable wage
rates, preferably through time and motion studies or in consultation
with representatives of workers and employers organizations.
Chapter IIIPAYMENT OF WAGES

Art. 102. Forms of payment. No employer shall pay the wages of an

employee by means of promissory notes, vouchers, coupons, tokens,
tickets, chits, or any object other than legal tender, even when expressly
requested by the employee.

Payment of wages by check or money order shall be allowed when such

manner of payment is customary on the date of effectivity of this Code, or
is necessary because of special circumstances as specified in appropriate
regulations to be issued by the Secretary of Labor and Employment or as
stipulated in a collective bargaining agreement.

Art. 103. Time of payment. Wages shall be paid at least once every two
(2) weeks or twice a month at intervals not exceeding sixteen (16) days. If
on account of force majeure or circumstances beyond the employers
control, payment of wages on or within the time herein provided cannot
be made, the employer shall pay the wages immediately after such force
majeure or circumstances have ceased. No employer shall make payment
with less frequency than once a month.

The payment of wages of employees engaged to perform a task which

cannot be completed in two (2) weeks shall be subject to the following
conditions, in the absence of a collective bargaining agreement or
arbitration award:

i. That payments are made at intervals not exceeding sixteen (16) days, in
proportion to the amount of work completed;
j. That final settlement is made upon completion of the work.
Art. 104. Place of payment. Payment of wages shall be made at or near
the place of undertaking, except as otherwise provided by such
regulations as the Secretary of Labor and Employment may prescribe
under conditions to ensure greater protection of wages.

Art. 105. Direct payment of wages. Wages shall be paid directly to the
workers to whom they are due, except:

p.In cases of force majeure rendering such payment impossible or under

other special circumstances to be determined by the Secretary of
Labor and Employment in appropriate regulations, in which case,
the worker may be paid through another person under written
authority given by the worker for the purpose; or
q.Where the worker has died, in which case, the employer may pay the
wages of the deceased worker to the heirs of the latter without the
necessity of intestate proceedings. The claimants, if they are all of
age, shall execute an affidavit attesting to their relationship to the
deceased and the fact that they are his heirs, to the exclusion of all
other persons. If any of the heirs is a minor, the affidavit shall be
executed on his behalf by his natural guardian or next-of-kin. The
 affidavit shall be presented to the employer who shall make
payment through the Secretary of Labor and Employment or his
representative. The representative of the Secretary of Labor and
Employment shall act as referee in dividing the amount paid
among the heirs. The payment of wages under this Article shall
absolve the employer of any further liability with respect to the
amount paid.
Art. 106. Contractor or subcontractor. Whenever an employer enters
into a contract with another person for the performance of the formers
work, the employees of the contractor and of the latters subcontractor, if
any, shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of this Code.

In the event that the contractor or subcontractor fails to pay the wages of
his employees in accordance with this Code, the employer shall be jointly
and severally liable with his contractor or subcontractor to such
employees to the extent of the work performed under the contract, in the
same manner and extent that he is liable to employees directly employed
by him.

The Secretary of Labor and Employment may, by appropriate regulations,

restrict or prohibit the contracting-out of labor to protect the rights of
workers established under this Code. In so prohibiting or restricting, he
may make appropriate distinctions between labor-only contracting and
job contracting as well as differentiations within these types of
contracting and determine who among the parties involved shall be
considered the employer for purposes of this Code, to prevent any
violation or circumvention of any provision of this Code.

There is "labor-only" contracting where the person supplying workers to

an employer does not have substantial capital or investment in the form of
tools, equipment, machineries, work premises, among others, and the
workers recruited and placed by such person are performing activities
which are directly related to the principal business of such employer. In
such cases, the person or intermediary shall be considered merely as an
agent of the employer who shall be responsible to the workers in the same
manner and extent as if the latter were directly employed by him.

Art. 107. Indirect employer. The provisions of the immediately

preceding article shall likewise apply to any person, partnership,
association or corporation which, not being an employer, contracts with
an independent contractor for the performance of any work, task, job or
project.

Art. 108. Posting of bond. An employer or indirect employer may

require the contractor or subcontractor to furnish a bond equal to the cost
of labor under contract, on condition that the bond will answer for the
wages due the employees should the contractor or subcontractor, as the
case may be, fail to pay the same.

Art. 109. Solidary liability. The provisions of existing laws to the

contrary notwithstanding, every employer or indirect employer shall be
held responsible with his contractor or subcontractor for any violation of
any provision of this Code. For purposes of determining the extent of
their civil liability under this Chapter, they shall be considered as direct
employers.

Art. 110. Worker preference in case of bankruptcy. In the event of

bankruptcy or liquidation of an employers business, his workers shall
enjoy first preference as regards their wages and other monetary claims,
any provisions of law to the contrary notwithstanding. Such unpaid wages
and monetary claims shall be paid in full before claims of the government
and other creditors may be paid. (As amended by Section 1, Republic Act
No. 6715, March 21, 1989)

Art. 111. Attorneys fees.

d.In cases of unlawful withholding of wages, the culpable party may be

assessed attorneys fees equivalent to ten percent of the amount of
wages recovered.
e.It shall be unlawful for any person to demand or accept, in any judicial
or administrative proceedings for the recovery of wages, attorneys
fees which exceed ten percent of the amount of wages recovered.
Chapter IVPROHIBITIONS REGARDING WAGES

Art. 112. Non-interference in disposal of wages. No employer shall

limit or otherwise interfere with the freedom of any employee to dispose
of his wages. He shall not in any manner force, compel, or oblige his
employees to purchase merchandise, commodities or other property from
any other person, or otherwise make use of any store or services of such
employer or any other person.

Art. 113. Wage deduction. No employer, in his own behalf or in behalf

of any person, shall make any deduction from the wages of his
employees, except:

f. In cases where the worker is insured with his consent by the employer,
and the deduction is to recompense the employer for the amount
paid by him as premium on the insurance;
g.For union dues, in cases where the right of the worker or his union to
check-off has been recognized by the employer or authorized in
writing by the individual worker concerned; and
h.In cases where the employer is authorized by law or regulations issued
by the Secretary of Labor and Employment.
Art. 114. Deposits for loss or damage. No employer shall require his
worker to make deposits from which deductions shall be made for the
reimbursement of loss of or damage to tools, materials, or equipment
supplied by the employer, except when the employer is engaged in such
trades, occupations or business where the practice of making deductions
or requiring deposits is a recognized one, or is necessary or desirable as
determined by the Secretary of Labor and Employment in appropriate
rules and regulations.

Art. 115. Limitations. No deduction from the deposits of an employee

for the actual amount of the loss or damage shall be made unless the
employee has been heard thereon, and his responsibility has been clearly
shown.

Art. 116. Withholding of wages and kickbacks prohibited. It shall be

unlawful for any person, directly or indirectly, to withhold any amount
from the wages of a worker or induce him to give up any part of his
wages by force, stealth, intimidation, threat or by any other means
whatsoever without the workers consent.

Art. 117. Deduction to ensure employment. It shall be unlawful to

make any deduction from the wages of any employee for the benefit of
the employer or his representative or intermediary as consideration of a
promise of employment or retention in employment.

Art. 118. Retaliatory measures. It shall be unlawful for an employer to

refuse to pay or reduce the wages and benefits, discharge or in any
manner discriminate against any employee who has filed any complaint
or instituted any proceeding under this Title or has testified or is about to
testify in such proceedings.

Art. 119. False reporting. It shall be unlawful for any person to make
any statement, report, or record filed or kept pursuant to the provisions of
this Code knowing such statement, report or record to be false in any
material respect.

Chapter VWAGE STUDIES, WAGE AGREEMENTS AND WAGE

DETERMINATION
Art. 120. Creation of National Wages and Productivity Commission.
There is hereby created a National Wages and Productivity Commission,
hereinafter referred to as the Commission, which shall be attached to the
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for policy and program
coordination. (As amended by Republic Act No. 6727, June 9, 1989).

Art. 121. Powers and functions of the Commission. The Commission

shall have the following powers and functions:

c.To act as the national consultative and advisory body to the President of
the Philippines and Congress on matters relating to wages, incomes
and productivity;
d.To formulate policies and guidelines on wages, incomes and
productivity improvement at the enterprise, industry and national
levels;
e.To prescribe rules and guidelines for the determination of appropriate
minimum wage and productivity measures at the regional,
provincial, or industry levels;
f. To review regional wage levels set by the Regional Tripartite Wages
and Productivity Boards to determine if these are in accordance
with prescribed guidelines and national development plans;
g.To undertake studies, researches and surveys necessary for the
attainment of its functions and objectives, and to collect and
compile data and periodically disseminate information on wages
and productivity and other related information, including, but not
limited to, employment, cost-of-living, labor costs, investments and
returns;
h.To review plans and programs of the Regional Tripartite Wages and
Productivity Boards to determine whether these are consistent with
national development plans;
i. To exercise technical and administrative supervision over the Regional
Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards;
j. To call, from time to time, a national tripartite conference of
representatives of government, workers and employers for the
consideration of measures to promote wage rationalization and
productivity; and
k.To exercise such powers and functions as may be necessary to
implement this Act.
The Commission shall be composed of the Secretary of Labor and
Employment as ex-officio chairman, the Director-General of the National
Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) as ex-officio vice-
chairman, and two (2) members each from workers and employers
sectors who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon
recommendation of the Secretary of Labor and Employment to be made
on the basis of the list of nominees submitted by the workers and
employers sectors, respectively, and who shall serve for a term of five (5)
years. The Executive Director of the Commission shall also be a member
of the Commission.

The Commission shall be assisted by a Secretariat to be headed by an

Executive Director and two (2) Deputy Directors, who shall be appointed
by the President of the Philippines, upon the recommendation of the
Secretary of Labor and Employment.

The Executive Director shall have the same rank, salary, benefits and
other emoluments as that of a Department Assistant Secretary, while the
Deputy Directors shall have the same rank, salary, benefits and other
emoluments as that of a Bureau Director. The members of the
Commission representing labor and management shall have the same
rank, emoluments, allowances and other benefits as those prescribed by
law for labor and management representatives in the Employees
Compensation Commission. (As amended by Republic Act No. 6727,
June 9, 1989)

Art. 122. Creation of Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity

Boards. There is hereby created Regional Tripartite Wages and
Productivity Boards, hereinafter referred to as Regional Boards, in all
regions, including autonomous regions as may be established by law. The
Commission shall determine the offices/headquarters of the respective
Regional Boards.

The Regional Boards shall have the following powers and functions in
their respective territorial jurisdictions:

a.To develop plans, programs and projects relative to wages, incomes and
productivity improvement for their respective regions;
b.To determine and fix minimum wage rates applicable in their regions,
provinces or industries therein and to issue the corresponding wage
orders, subject to guidelines issued by the Commission;
c.To undertake studies, researches, and surveys necessary for the
attainment of their functions, objectives and programs, and to
collect and compile data on wages, incomes, productivity and other
related information and periodically disseminate the same;
d.To coordinate with the other Regional Boards as may be necessary to
attain the policy and intention of this Code;
e.To receive, process and act on applications for exemption from
prescribed wage rates as may be provided by law or any Wage
 Order; and
f. To exercise such other powers and functions as may be necessary to
carry out their mandate under this Code.
Implementation of the plans, programs, and projects of the Regional
Boards referred to in the second paragraph, letter (a) of this Article, shall
be through the respective regional offices of the Department of Labor and
Employment within their territorial jurisdiction; Provided, however, That
the Regional Boards shall have technical supervision over the regional
office of the Department of Labor and Employment with respect to the
implementation of said plans, programs and projects.

Each Regional Board shall be composed of the Regional Director of the

Department of Labor and Employment as chairman, the Regional
Directors of the National Economic and Development Authority and the
Department of Trade and Industry as vice-chairmen and two (2) members
each from workers and employers sectors who shall be appointed by the
President of the Philippines, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of
Labor and Employment, to be made on the basis of the list of nominees
submitted by the workers and employers sectors, respectively, and who
shall serve for a term of five (5) years.

Each Regional Board to be headed by its chairman shall be assisted by a

Secretariat. (As amended by Republic Act No. 6727, June 9, 1989)

Art. 123. Wage Order. Whenever conditions in the region so warrant,

the Regional Board shall investigate and study all pertinent facts; and
based on the standards and criteria herein prescribed, shall proceed to
determine whether a Wage Order should be issued. Any such Wage Order
shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from its complete publication in at
least one (1) newspaper of general circulation in the region.

In the performance of its wage-determining functions, the Regional Board

shall conduct public hearings/consultations, giving notices to employees
and employers groups, provincial, city and municipal officials and other
interested parties.

Any party aggrieved by the Wage Order issued by the Regional Board
may appeal such order to the Commission within ten (10) calendar days
from the publication of such order. It shall be mandatory for the
Commission to decide such appeal within sixty (60) calendar days from
the filing thereof.

The filing of the appeal does not stay the order unless the person
appealing such order shall file with the Commission, an undertaking with
a surety or sureties satisfactory to the Commission for the payment to the
employees affected by the order of the corresponding increase, in the
event such order is affirmed. (As amended by Republic Act No. 6727,
June 9, 1989)

Art. 124. Standards/Criteria for minimum wage fixing. The regional

minimum wages to be established by the Regional Board shall be as
nearly adequate as is economically feasible to maintain the minimum
standards of living necessary for the health, efficiency and general well-
being of the employees within the framework of the national economic
and social development program. In the determination of such regional
minimum wages, the Regional Board shall, among other relevant factors,
consider the following:

a.The demand for living wages;

b.Wage adjustment vis--vis the consumer price index;
c.The cost of living and changes or increases therein;
d.The needs of workers and their families;
e.The need to induce industries to invest in the countryside;
f. Improvements in standards of living;
g.The prevailing wage levels;
h.Fair return of the capital invested and capacity to pay of employers;
i. Effects on employment generation and family income; and
j. The equitable distribution of income and wealth along the imperatives
of economic and social development.
The wages prescribed in accordance with the provisions of this Title shall
be the standard prevailing minimum wages in every region. These wages
shall include wages varying with industries, provinces or localities if in
the judgment of the Regional Board, conditions make such local
differentiation proper and necessary to effectuate the purpose of this Title.

Any person, company, corporation, partnership or any other entity

engaged in business shall file and register annually with the appropriate
Regional Board, Commission and the National Statistics Office, an
itemized listing of their labor component, specifying the names of their
workers and employees below the managerial level, including learners,
apprentices and disabled/handicapped workers who were hired under the
terms prescribed in the employment contracts, and their corresponding
salaries and wages.

Where the application of any prescribed wage increase by virtue of a law

or wage order issued by any Regional Board results in distortions of the
wage structure within an establishment, the employer and the union shall
negotiate to correct the distortions. Any dispute arising from wage
distortions shall be resolved through the grievance procedure under their
collective bargaining agreement and, if it remains unresolved, through
voluntary arbitration. Unless otherwise agreed by the parties in writing,
such dispute shall be decided by the voluntary arbitrators within ten (10)
calendar days from the time said dispute was referred to voluntary
arbitration.

In cases where there are no collective agreements or recognized labor

unions, the employers and workers shall endeavor to correct such
distortions. Any dispute arising therefrom shall be settled through the
National Conciliation and Mediation Board and, if it remains unresolved
after ten (10) calendar days of conciliation, shall be referred to the
appropriate branch of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC).
It shall be mandatory for the NLRC to conduct continuous hearings and
decide the dispute within twenty (20) calendar days from the time said
dispute is submitted for compulsory arbitration.

The pendency of a dispute arising from a wage distortion shall not in any
way delay the applicability of any increase in prescribed wage rates
pursuant to the provisions of law or wage order.

As used herein, a wage distortion shall mean a situation where an

increase in prescribed wage rates results in the elimination or severe
contraction of intentional quantitative differences in wage or salary rates
between and among employee groups in an establishment as to
effectively obliterate the distinctions embodied in such wage structure
based on skills, length of service, or other logical bases of differentiation.

All workers paid by result, including those who are paid on piecework,
takay, pakyaw or task basis, shall receive not less than the prescribed
wage rates per eight (8) hours of work a day, or a proportion thereof for
working less than eight (8) hours.

All recognized learnership and apprenticeship agreements shall be

considered automatically modified insofar as their wage clauses are
concerned to reflect the prescribed wage rates. (As amended by Republic
Act No. 6727, June 9, 1989)

Art. 125. Freedom to bargain. No wage order shall be construed to

prevent workers in particular firms or enterprises or industries from
bargaining for higher wages with their respective employers. (As
amended by Republic Act No. 6727, June 9, 1989)
Art. 126. Prohibition against injunction. No preliminary or permanent
injunction or temporary restraining order may be issued by any court,
tribunal or other entity against any proceedings before the Commission or
the Regional Boards. (As amended by Republic Act No. 6727, June 9,
1989)

Art. 127. Non-diminution of benefits. No wage order issued by any

regional board shall provide for wage rates lower than the statutory
minimum wage rates prescribed by Congress. (As amended by Republic
Act No. 6727, June 9, 1989)

Chapter VIADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT

Art. 128. Visitorial and enforcement power.

a.The Secretary of Labor and Employment or his duly authorized

representatives, including labor regulation officers, shall have
access to employers records and premises at any time of the day or
night whenever work is being undertaken therein, and the right to
copy therefrom, to question any employee and investigate any fact,
condition or matter which may be necessary to determine
violations or which may aid in the enforcement of this Code and of
any labor law, wage order or rules and regulations issued pursuant
thereto.
b.Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 129 and 217 of this Code to
the contrary, and in cases where the relationship of employer-
employee still exists, the Secretary of Labor and Employment or
his duly authorized representatives shall have the power to issue
compliance orders to give effect to the labor standards provisions
of this Code and other labor legislation based on the findings of
labor employment and enforcement officers or industrial safety
engineers made in the course of inspection. The Secretary or his
duly authorized representatives shall issue writs of execution to the
appropriate authority for the enforcement of their orders, except in
cases where the employer contests the findings of the labor
employment and enforcement officer and raises issues supported
by documentary proofs which were not considered in the course of
inspection. (As amended by Republic Act No. 7730, June 2, 1994).
An order issued by the duly authorized representative of the
Secretary of Labor and Employment under this Article may be
appealed to the latter. In case said order involves a monetary
award, an appeal by the employer may be perfected only upon the
posting of a cash or surety bond issued by a reputable bonding
 company duly accredited by the Secretary of Labor and
Employment in the amount equivalent to the monetary award in the
order appealed from. (As amended by Republic Act No. 7730, June
2, 1994)
c.The Secretary of Labor and Employment may likewise order stoppage
of work or suspension of operations of any unit or department of an
establishment when non-compliance with the law or implementing
rules and regulations poses grave and imminent danger to the
health and safety of workers in the workplace. Within twenty-four
hours, a hearing shall be conducted to determine whether an order
for the stoppage of work or suspension of operations shall be lifted
or not. In case the violation is attributable to the fault of the
employer, he shall pay the employees concerned their salaries or
wages during the period of such stoppage of work or suspension of
operation.
d.It shall be unlawful for any person or entity to obstruct, impede, delay
or otherwise render ineffective the orders of the Secretary of Labor
and Employment or his duly authorized representatives issued
pursuant to the authority granted under this Article, and no inferior
court or entity shall issue temporary or permanent injunction or
restraining order or otherwise assume jurisdiction over any case
involving the enforcement orders issued in accordance with this
Article.
e.Any government employee found guilty of violation of, or abuse of
authority, under this Article shall, after appropriate administrative
investigation, be subject to summary dismissal from the service.
f. The Secretary of Labor and Employment may, by appropriate
regulations, require employers to keep and maintain such
employment records as may be necessary in aid of his visitorial and
enforcement powers under this Code.
Art. 129. Recovery of wages, simple money claims and other benefits.
Upon complaint of any interested party, the Regional Director of the
Department of Labor and Employment or any of the duly authorized
hearing officers of the Department is empowered, through summary
proceeding and after due notice, to hear and decide any matter involving
the recovery of wages and other monetary claims and benefits, including
legal interest, owing to an employee or person employed in domestic or
household service or househelper under this Code, arising from
employer-employee relations: Provided, That such complaint does not
include a claim for reinstatement: Provided further, That the aggregate
money claims of each employee or househelper does not exceed Five
thousand pesos (P5,000.00). The Regional Director or hearing officer
shall decide or resolve the complaint within thirty (30) calendar days
from the date of the filing of the same. Any sum thus recovered on behalf
of any employee or househelper pursuant to this Article shall be held in a
special deposit account by, and shall be paid on order of, the Secretary of
Labor and Employment or the Regional Director directly to the employee
or househelper concerned. Any such sum not paid to the employee or
househelper because he cannot be located after diligent and reasonable
effort to locate him within a period of three (3) years, shall be held as a
special fund of the Department of Labor and Employment to be used
exclusively for the amelioration and benefit of workers.

Any decision or resolution of the Regional Director or hearing officer

pursuant to this provision may be appealed on the same grounds provided
in Article 223 of this Code, within five (5) calendar days from receipt of a
copy of said decision or resolution, to the National Labor Relations
Commission which shall resolve the appeal within ten (10) calendar days
from the submission of the last pleading required or allowed under its
rules.

The Secretary of Labor and Employment or his duly authorized

representative may supervise the payment of unpaid wages and other
monetary claims and benefits, including legal interest, found owing to
any employee or househelper under this Code. (As amended by Section 2,
Republic Act No. 6715, March 21, 1989)

Title IIIWORKING CONDITIONS FORSPECIAL GROUPS OF

EMPLOYEES

Chapter IEMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN

Art. 130. Nightwork prohibition. No woman, regardless of age, shall be

employed or permitted or suffered to work, with or without
compensation:

a.In any industrial undertaking or branch thereof between ten oclock at

night and six oclock in the morning of the following day; or
b.In any commercial or non-industrial undertaking or branch thereof,
other than agricultural, between midnight and six oclock in the
morning of the following day; or
c.In any agricultural undertaking at nighttime unless she is given a period
of rest of not less than nine (9) consecutive hours.
Art. 131. Exceptions. The prohibitions prescribed by the preceding
Article shall not apply in any of the following cases:

a.In cases of actual or impending emergencies caused by serious

 accident, fire, flood, typhoon, earthquake, epidemic or other
disasters or calamity, to prevent loss of life or property, or in cases
of force majeure or imminent danger to public safety;
b.In case of urgent work to be performed on machineries, equipment or
installation, to avoid serious loss which the employer would
otherwise suffer;
c.Where the work is necessary to prevent serious loss of perishable
goods;
d.Where the woman employee holds a responsible position of managerial
or technical nature, or where the woman employee has been
engaged to provide health and welfare services;
e.Where the nature of the work requires the manual skill and dexterity of
women workers and the same cannot be performed with equal
efficiency by male workers;
f. Where the women employees are immediate members of the family
operating the establishment or undertaking; and
g.Under other analogous cases exempted by the Secretary of Labor and
Employment in appropriate regulations.
Art. 132. Facilities for women. The Secretary of Labor and Employment
shall establish standards that will ensure the safety and health of women
employees. In appropriate cases, he shall, by regulations, require any
employer to:

a.Provide seats proper for women and permit them to use such seats
when they are free from work and during working hours, provided
they can perform their duties in this position without detriment to
efficiency;
b.To establish separate toilet rooms and lavatories for men and women
and provide at least a dressing room for women;
c.To establish a nursery in a workplace for the benefit of the women
employees therein; and
d.To determine appropriate minimum age and other standards for
retirement or termination in special occupations such as those of
flight attendants and the like.
Art. 133. Maternity leave benefits.

a.Every employer shall grant to any pregnant woman employee who has
rendered an aggregate service of at least six (6) months for the last
twelve (12) months, maternity leave of at least two (2) weeks prior
to the expected date of delivery and another four (4) weeks after
normal delivery or abortion with full pay based on her regular or
average weekly wages. The employer may require from any
woman employee applying for maternity leave the production of a
 medical certificate stating that delivery will probably take place
within two weeks.
b.The maternity leave shall be extended without pay on account of illness
medically certified to arise out of the pregnancy, delivery, abortion
or miscarriage, which renders the woman unfit for work, unless she
has earned unused leave credits from which such extended leave
may be charged.
c.The maternity leave provided in this Article shall be paid by the
employer only for the first four (4) deliveries by a woman
employee after the effectivity of this Code.
Art. 134. Family planning services; incentives for family planning.

a.Establishments which are required by law to maintain a clinic or

infirmary shall provide free family planning services to their
employees which shall include, but not be limited to, the
application or use of contraceptive pills and intrauterine devices.
b.In coordination with other agencies of the government engaged in the
promotion of family planning, the Department of Labor and
Employment shall develop and prescribe incentive bonus schemes
to encourage family planning among female workers in any
establishment or enterprise.
Art. 135. Discrimination prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any
employer to discriminate against any woman employee with respect to
terms and conditions of employment solely on account of her sex.

The following are acts of discrimination:

a.Payment of a lesser compensation, including wage, salary or other form

of remuneration and fringe benefits, to a female employees as
against a male employee, for work of equal value; and
b.Favoring a male employee over a female employee with respect to
promotion, training opportunities, study and scholarship grants
solely on account of their sexes.
Criminal liability for the willful commission of any unlawful act as
provided in this Article or any violation of the rules and regulations
issued pursuant to Section 2 hereof shall be penalized as provided in
Articles 288 and 289 of this Code: Provided, That the institution of any
criminal action under this provision shall not bar the aggrieved employee
from filing an entirely separate and distinct action for money claims,
which may include claims for damages and other affirmative reliefs. The
actions hereby authorized shall proceed independently of each other. (As
amended by Republic Act No. 6725, May 12, 1989)
Art. 136. Stipulation against marriage. It shall be unlawful for an
employer to require as a condition of employment or continuation of
employment that a woman employee shall not get married, or to stipulate
expressly or tacitly that upon getting married, a woman employee shall be
deemed resigned or separated, or to actually dismiss, discharge,
discriminate or otherwise prejudice a woman employee merely by reason
of her marriage.

Art. 137. Prohibited acts.

a.It shall be unlawful for any employer:

1. To deny any woman employee the benefits provided for in this
Chapter or to discharge any woman employed by him for the
purpose of preventing her from enjoying any of the benefits
provided under this Code.
2. To discharge such woman on account of her pregnancy, or while on
leave or in confinement due to her pregnancy;
3. To discharge or refuse the admission of such woman upon
returning to her work for fear that she may again be
pregnant.
Art. 138. Classification of certain women workers. Any woman who is
permitted or suffered to work, with or without compensation, in any night
club, cocktail lounge, massage clinic, bar or similar establishments under
the effective control or supervision of the employer for a substantial
period of time as determined by the Secretary of Labor and Employment,
shall be considered as an employee of such establishment for purposes of
labor and social legislation.

Chapter IIEMPLOYMENT OF MINORS

Art. 139. Minimum employable age.

a.No child below fifteen (15) years of age shall be employed, except
when he works directly under the sole responsibility of his parents
or guardian, and his employment does not in any way interfere
with his schooling.
b.Any person between fifteen (15) and eighteen (18) years of age may be
employed for such number of hours and such periods of the day as
determined by the Secretary of Labor and Employment in
appropriate regulations.
c.The foregoing provisions shall in no case allow the employment of a
person below eighteen (18) years of age in an undertaking which is
hazardous or deleterious in nature as determined by the Secretary
 of Labor and Employment.
Art. 140. Prohibition against child discrimination. No employer shall
discriminate against any person in respect to terms and conditions of
employment on account of his age.

Chapter IIIEMPLOYMENT OF HOUSEHELPERS

Art. 141. Coverage. This Chapter shall apply to all persons rendering
services in households for compensation.

"Domestic or household service" shall mean service in the employers

home which is usually necessary or desirable for the maintenance and
enjoyment thereof and includes ministering to the personal comfort and
convenience of the members of the employers household, including
services of family drivers.

Art. 142. Contract of domestic service. The original contract of

domestic service shall not last for more than two (2) years but it may be
renewed for such periods as may be agreed upon by the parties.

Art. 143. Minimum wage.

a.Househelpers shall be paid the following minimum wage rates:

1. Eight hundred pesos (P800.00) a month for househelpers in
Manila, Quezon, Pasay, and Caloocan cities and
municipalities of Makati, San Juan, Mandaluyong,
Muntinlupa, Navotas, Malabon, Paraaque, Las Pias, Pasig,
Marikina, Valenzuela, Taguig and Pateros in Metro Manila
and in highly urbanized cities;
2. Six hundred fifty pesos (P650.00) a month for those in other
chartered cities and first-class municipalities; and
3. Five hundred fifty pesos (P550.00) a month for those in other
municipalities.
Provided, That the employers shall review the employment contracts of
their househelpers every three (3) years with the end in view of
improving the terms and conditions thereof.

Provided, further, That those househelpers who are receiving at least One
thousand pesos (P1,000.00) shall be covered by the Social Security
System (SSS) and be entitled to all the benefits provided thereunder. (As
amended by Republic Act No. 7655, August 19, 1993)

Art. 144. Minimum cash wage. The minimum wage rates prescribed
under this Chapter shall be the basic cash wages which shall be paid to
the househelpers in addition to lodging, food and medical attendance.

Art. 145. Assignment to non-household work. No househelper shall be

assigned to work in a commercial, industrial or agricultural enterprise at a
wage or salary rate lower than that provided for agricultural or non-
agricultural workers as prescribed herein.

Art. 146. Opportunity for education. If the househelper is under the age
of eighteen (18) years, the employer shall give him or her an opportunity
for at least elementary education. The cost of education shall be part of
the househelpers compensation, unless there is a stipulation to the
contrary.

Art. 147. Treatment of househelpers. The employer shall treat the

househelper in a just and humane manner. In no case shall physical
violence be used upon the househelper.

Art. 148. Board, lodging, and medical attendance. The employer shall
furnish the househelper, free of charge, suitable and sanitary living
quarters as well as adequate food and medical attendance.

Art. 149. Indemnity for unjust termination of services. If the period of

household service is fixed, neither the employer nor the househelper may
terminate the contract before the expiration of the term, except for a just
cause. If the househelper is unjustly dismissed, he or she shall be paid the
compensation already earned plus that for fifteen (15) days by way of
indemnity.

If the househelper leaves without justifiable reason, he or she shall forfeit

any unpaid salary due him or her not exceeding fifteen (15) days.

Art. 150. Service of termination notice. If the duration of the household

service is not determined either in stipulation or by the nature of the
service, the employer or the househelper may give notice to put an end to
the relationship five (5) days before the intended termination of the
service.

Art. 151. Employment certification. Upon the severance of the

household service relation, the employer shall give the househelper a
written statement of the nature and duration of the service and his or her
efficiency and conduct as househelper.

Art. 152. Employment record. The employer may keep such records as
he may deem necessary to reflect the actual terms and conditions of
employment of his househelper, which the latter shall authenticate by
signature or thumbmark upon request of the employer.

Chapter IVEMPLOYMENT OF HOMEWORKERS

Art. 153. Regulation of industrial homeworkers. The employment of

industrial homeworkers and field personnel shall be regulated by the
government through the appropriate regulations issued by the Secretary
of Labor and Employment to ensure the general welfare and protection of
homeworkers and field personnel and the industries employing them.

Art. 154. Regulations of Secretary of Labor. The regulations or orders

to be issued pursuant to this Chapter shall be designed to assure the
minimum terms and conditions of employment applicable to the
industrial homeworkers or field personnel involved.

Art. 155. Distribution of homework. For purposes of this Chapter, the

"employer" of homeworkers includes any person, natural or artificial
who, for his account or benefit, or on behalf of any person residing
outside the country, directly or indirectly, or through an employee, agent
contractor, sub-contractor or any other person:

1.Delivers, or causes to be delivered, any goods, articles or materials to

be processed or fabricated in or about a home and thereafter to be
returned or to be disposed of or distributed in accordance with his
directions; or
Sells any goods, articles or materials to be processed or fabricated in or
about a home and then rebuys them after such processing or fabrication,
either by himself or through some other person.
BOOK FOUR
HEALTH, SAFETY AND SOCIAL WELFARE BENEFITSTitle I
MEDICAL, DENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL SAFETYChapter I
MEDICAL AND DENTAL SERVICES

Art. 156. First-aid treatment. Every employer shall keep in his

establishment such first-aid medicines and equipment as the nature and
conditions of work may require, in accordance with such regulations as
the Department of Labor and Employment shall prescribe.

The employer shall take steps for the training of a sufficient number of
employees in first-aid treatment.

Art. 157. Emergency medical and dental services. It shall be the duty
of every employer to furnish his employees in any locality with free
medical and dental attendance and facilities consisting of:

f. The services of a full-time registered nurse when the number of

employees exceeds fifty (50) but not more than two hundred (200)
except when the employer does not maintain hazardous
workplaces, in which case, the services of a graduate first-aider
shall be provided for the protection of workers, where no registered
nurse is available. The Secretary of Labor and Employment shall
provide by appropriate regulations, the services that shall be
required where the number of employees does not exceed fifty (50)
and shall determine by appropriate order, hazardous workplaces for
purposes of this Article;
g.The services of a full-time registered nurse, a part-time physician and
dentist, and an emergency clinic, when the number of employees
exceeds two hundred (200) but not more than three hundred (300);
and
h.The services of a full-time physician, dentist and a full-time registered
nurse as well as a dental clinic and an infirmary or emergency
hospital with one bed capacity for every one hundred (100)
employees when the number of employees exceeds three hundred
(300).
In cases of hazardous workplaces, no employer shall engage the services
of a physician or a dentist who cannot stay in the premises of the
establishment for at least two (2) hours, in the case of those engaged on
part-time basis, and not less than eight (8) hours, in the case of those
employed on full-time basis. Where the undertaking is non-hazardous in
nature, the physician and dentist may be engaged on retainer basis,
subject to such regulations as the Secretary of Labor and Employment
may prescribe to insure immediate availability of medical and dental
treatment and attendance in case of emergency. (As amended by
Presidential Decree NO. 570-A, Section 26)

Art. 158. When emergency hospital not required. The requirement for
an emergency hospital or dental clinic shall not be applicable in case
there is a hospital or dental clinic which is accessible from the employers
establishment and he makes arrangement for the reservation therein of the
necessary beds and dental facilities for the use of his employees.

Art. 159. Health program. The physician engaged by an employer shall,

in addition to his duties under this Chapter, develop and implement a
comprehensive occupational health program for the benefit of the
employees of his employer.
Art. 160. Qualifications of health personnel. The physicians, dentists
and nurses employed by employers pursuant to this Chapter shall have
the necessary training in industrial medicine and occupational safety and
health. The Secretary of Labor and Employment, in consultation with
industrial, medical, and occupational safety and health associations, shall
establish the qualifications, criteria and conditions of employment of such
health personnel.

Art. 161. Assistance of employer. It shall be the duty of any employer to

provide all the necessary assistance to ensure the adequate and immediate
medical and dental attendance and treatment to an injured or sick
employee in case of emergency.

Chapter IIOCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

Art. 162. Safety and health standards. The Secretary of Labor and
Employment shall, by appropriate orders, set and enforce mandatory
occupational safety and health standards to eliminate or reduce
occupational safety and health hazards in all workplaces and institute
new, and update existing, programs to ensure safe and healthful working
conditions in all places of employment.

Art. 163. Research. It shall be the responsibility of the Department of

Labor and Employment to conduct continuing studies and research to
develop innovative methods, techniques and approaches for dealing with
occupational safety and health problems; to discover latent diseases by
establishing causal connections between diseases and work in
environmental conditions; and to develop medical criteria which will
assure insofar as practicable that no employee will suffer impairment or
diminution in health, functional capacity, or life expectancy as a result of
his work and working conditions.

Art. 164. Training programs. The Department of Labor and

Employment shall develop and implement training programs to increase
the number and competence of personnel in the field of occupational
safety and industrial health.

Art. 165. Administration of safety and health laws.

c.The Department of Labor and Employment shall be solely responsible

for the administration and enforcement of occupational safety and
health laws, regulations and standards in all establishments and
workplaces wherever they may be located; however, chartered
cities may be allowed to conduct industrial safety inspections of
 establishments within their respective jurisdictions where they have
adequate facilities and competent personnel for the purpose as
determined by the Department of Labor and Employment and
subject to national standards established by the latter.
d.The Secretary of Labor and Employment may, through appropriate
regulations, collect reasonable fees for the inspection of steam
boilers, pressure vessels and pipings and electrical installations, the
test and approval for safe use of materials, equipment and other
safety devices and the approval of plans for such materials,
equipment and devices. The fee so collected shall be deposited in
the national treasury to the credit of the occupational safety and
health fund and shall be expended exclusively for the
administration and enforcement of safety and other labor laws
administered by the Department of Labor and Employment.
Title IIEMPLOYEES COMPENSATION AND STATE INSURANCE
FUND

Chapter IPOLICY AND DEFINITIONS

Art. 166. Policy. The State shall promote and develop a tax-exempt
employees compensation program whereby employees and their
dependents, in the event of work-connected disability or death, may
promptly secure adequate income benefit and medical related benefits.

Art. 167. Definition of terms. As used in this Title, unless the context
indicates otherwise:

g."Code" means the Labor Code of the Philippines instituted under

Presidential Decree Numbered four hundred forty-two, as
amended.
h."Commission" means the Employees Compensation Commission
created under this Title.
i. "SSS" means the Social Security System created under Republic Act
Numbered Eleven hundred sixty-one, as amended.
j. "GSIS" means the Government Service Insurance System created under
Commonwealth Act Numbered One hundred eighty-six, as
amended.
k."System" means the SSS or GSIS, as the case may be.
l. "Employer" means any person, natural or juridical, employing the
services of the employee.
m. "Employee" means any person compulsorily covered by the GSIS
under Commonwealth Act Numbered One hundred eighty-six, as
amended, including the members of the Armed Forces of the
 Philippines, and any person employed as casual, emergency,
temporary, substitute or contractual, or any person compulsorily
covered by the SSS under Republic Act Numbered Eleven hundred
sixty-one, as amended.
n."Person" means any individual, partnership, firm, association, trust,
corporation or legal representative thereof.
o."Dependent" means the legitimate, legitimated or legally adopted or
acknowledged natural child who is unmarried, not gainfully
employed, and not over twenty-one (21) years of age or over
twenty-one (21) years of age provided he is incapacitated and
incapable of self-support due to a physical or mental defect which
is congenital or acquired during minority; the legitimate spouse
living with the employee and the parents of said employee wholly
dependent upon him for regular support.
p."Beneficiaries" means the dependent spouse until he/she remarries and
dependent children, who are the primary beneficiaries. In their
absence, the dependent parents and subject to the restrictions
imposed on dependent children, the illegitimate children and
legitimate descendants, who are the secondary beneficiaries:
Provided, That the dependent acknowledged natural child shall be
considered as a primary beneficiary when there are no other
dependent children who are qualified and eligible for monthly
income benefit.
q."Injury" means any harmful change in the human organism from any
accident arising out of and in the course of the employment.
r. "Sickness" means any illness definitely accepted as an occupational
disease listed by the Commission, or any illness caused by
employment subject to proof that the risk of contracting the same is
increased by working conditions. For this purpose, the Commission
is empowered to determine and approve occupational diseases and
work-related illnesses that may be considered compensable based
on peculiar hazards of employment.
s. "Death" means loss of life resulting from injury or sickness.
t. "Disability" means loss or impairment of a physical or mental function
resulting from injury or sickness.
u."Compensation" means all payments made under this Title for income
benefits and medical or related benefits.
v. "Income benefit" means all payments made under this Title to the
providers of medical care, rehabilitation services and hospital care.
w. "Medical benefit" means all payments made under this Title to the
providers of medical care, rehabilitation services and hospital care.
x."Related benefit" means all payments made under this Title for
appliances and supplies.
y. "Appliances" means crutches, artificial aids and other similar devices.
z."Supplies" means medicine and other medical, dental or surgical items.
aa. "Hospital" means any medical facility, government or private,
authorized by law, an active member in good standing of the
Philippine Hospital Association and accredited by the
Commission.
bb. "Physician" means any doctor of medicine duly licensed to practice
in the Philippines, an active member in good standing of the
Philippine Medical Association and accredited by the
Commission.
cc. "Wages" or "Salary", insofar as they refer to the computation of
benefits defined in Republic Act No. 1161, as amended, for SSS
and Presidential Decree No. 1146, as amended, for GSIS,
respectively, except that part in excess of Three Thousand Pesos.
dd. "Monthly salary credit" means the wage or salary base for
contributions as provided in Republic Act Numbered Eleven
hundred sixty-one, as amended, or the wages or salary.
ee. "Average monthly salary credit" in the case of the SSS means the
result obtained by dividing the sum of the monthly salary credits in
the sixty-month period immediately following the semester of
death or permanent disability by sixty (60), except where the
month of death or permanent disability falls within eighteen (18)
calendar months from the month of coverage, in which case, it is
the result obtained by dividing the sum of all monthly salary credits
paid prior to the month of contingency by the total number of
calendar months of coverage in the same period.
ff. "Average daily salary credit" in the case of the SSS means the
result obtained by dividing the sum of the six (6) highest monthly
salary credits in the twelve-month period immediately preceding
the semester of sickness or injury by one hundred eighty (180),
except where the month of injury falls within twelve (12) calendar
months from the first month of coverage, in which case it is the
result obtained by dividing the sum of all monthly salary credits by
thirty (30) times the number of calendar months of coverage in the
period. In the case of the GSIS, the average daily salary credit shall
be the actual daily salary or wage, or the monthly salary or wage
divided by the actual number of working days of the month of
contingency.
gg. "Quarter" means a period of three (3) consecutive months ending
on the last days of March, June, September and December.
hh. "Semester" means a period of two consecutive quarters ending in
the quarter of death, permanent disability, injury or sickness.
ii. "Replacement ratio" - The sum of twenty percent and the quotient
 obtained by dividing three hundred by the sum of three hundred
forty and the average monthly salary credit.
jj. "Credited years of service" - For a member covered prior to
January, 1975, nineteen hundred seventy-five minus the calendar
year of coverage, plus the number of calendar years in which six or
more contributions have been paid from January, 1975 up to the
calendar year containing the semester prior to the contingency. For
a member covered on or after January, 1975, the number of
calendar years in which six or more contributions have been paid
from the year of coverage up to the calendar year containing the
semester prior to the contingency.
kk. "Monthly income benefit" means the amount equivalent to one
hundred fifteen percent of the sum of the average monthly salary
credit multiplied by the replacement ratio, and one and a half
percent of the average monthly salary credit for each credited year
of service in excess of ten years: Provided, That the monthly
income benefit shall in no case be less than two hundred fifty
pesos.
Chapter IICOVERAGE AND LIABILITY

Art. 168. Compulsory coverage. Coverage in the State Insurance Fund

shall be compulsory upon all employers and their employees not over
sixty (60) years of age: Provided, That an employee who is over (60)
years of age and paying contributions to qualify for the retirement or life
insurance benefit administered by the System shall be subject to
compulsory coverage.

Art. 169. Foreign employment. The Commission shall ensure adequate

coverage of Filipino employees employed abroad, subject to regulations
as it may prescribe.

Art. 170. Effective date of coverage. Compulsory coverage of the

employer during the effectivity of this Title shall take effect on the first
day of his operation, and that of the employee, on the date of his
employment.

Art. 171. Registration. Each employer and his employees shall register
with the System in accordance with its regulations.

Art. 172. Limitation of liability. The State Insurance Fund shall be liable
for compensation to the employee or his dependents, except when the
disability or death was occasioned by the employees intoxication, willful
intention to injure or kill himself or another, notorious negligence, or
otherwise provided under this Title.

Art. 173. Extent of liability. Unless otherwise provided, the liability of

the State Insurance Fund under this Title shall be exclusive and in place
of all other liabilities of the employer to the employee, his dependents or
anyone otherwise entitled to receive damages on behalf of the employee
or his dependents. The payment of compensation under this Title shall not
bar the recovery of benefits as provided for in Section 699 of the Revised
Administrative Code, Republic Act Numbered Eleven hundred sixty-one,
as amended, Republic Act Numbered Forty-eight hundred sixty-four as
amended, and other laws whose benefits are administered by the System
or by other agencies of the government. (As amended by Presidential
Decree No. 1921).

Art. 174. Liability of third party/ies.

l. When the disability or death is caused by circumstances creating a legal

liability against a third party, the disabled employee or the
dependents, in case of his death, shall be paid by the System under
this Title. In case benefit is paid under this Title, the System shall
be subrogated to the rights of the disabled employee or the
dependents, in case of his death, in accordance with the general
law.
m. Where the System recovers from such third party damages in
excess of those paid or allowed under this Title, such excess shall
be delivered to the disabled employee or other persons entitled
thereto, after deducting the cost of proceedings and expenses of the
System.
Art. 175. Deprivation of the benefits. Except as otherwise provided
under this Title, no contract, regulation or device whatsoever shall operate
to deprive the employee or his dependents of any part of the income
benefits and medical or related services granted under this Title. Existing
medical services being provided by the employer shall be maintained and
continued to be enjoyed by their employees.

Chapter IIIADMINISTRATION

Art. 176. Employees Compensation Commission.

4.To initiate, rationalize, and coordinate the policies of the employees

compensation program, the Employees Compensation
Commission is hereby created to be composed of five ex-officio
members, namely: the Secretary of Labor and Employment as
Chairman, the GSIS General Manager, the SSS Administrator, the
 Chairman of the Philippine Medical Care Commission, and the
Executive Director of the ECC Secretariat, and two appointive
members, one of whom shall represent the employees and the
other, the employers, to be appointed by the President of the
Philippines for a term of six years. The appointive member shall
have at least five years experience in workmens compensation or
social security programs. All vacancies shall be filled for the
unexpired term only. (As amended by Section 19 [c], Executive
Order No. 126)
5.The Vice Chairman of the Commission shall be alternated each year
between the GSIS General Manager and the SSS Administrator.
The presence of four members shall constitute a quorum. Each
member shall receive a per diem of two hundred pesos for every
meeting that is actually attended by him, exclusive of actual,
ordinary and necessary travel and representation expenses. In his
absence, any member may designate an official of the institution he
serves on full-time basis as his representative to act in his behalf.
(As amended by Section 2, Presidential Decree No. 1368)
6.The general conduct of the operations and management functions of the
GSIS or SSS under this Title shall be vested in its respective chief
executive officers, who shall be immediately responsible for
carrying out the policies of the Commission.
7.The Commission shall have the status and category of a government
corporation, and it is hereby deemed attached to the Department of
Labor and Employment for policy coordination and guidance. (As
amended by Section 2, Presidential Decree No. 1368)
Art. 177. Powers and duties. The Commission shall have the following
powers and duties:

i. To assess and fix a rate of contribution from all employers;

j. To determine the rate of contribution payable by an employer whose
records show a high frequency of work accidents or occupational
diseases due to failure by the said employer to observe adequate
safety measures;
k.To approve rules and regulations governing the processing of claims
and the settlement of disputes arising therefrom as prescribed by
the System;
l. To initiate policies and programs toward adequate occupational health
and safety and accident prevention in the working environment,
rehabilitation other than those provided for under Article 190
hereof, and other related programs and activities, and to
appropriate funds therefor; (As amended by Section 3, Presidential
Decree No. 1368)
m. To make the necessary actuarial studies and calculations
concerning the grant of constant help and income benefits for
permanent disability or death and the rationalization of the benefits
for permanent disability and death under the Title with benefits
payable by the System for similar contingencies: Provided, That
the Commission may upgrade benefits and add new ones subject to
approval of the President: and Provided, further, That the actuarial
stability of the State Insurance Fund shall be guaranteed: Provided,
finally, That such increases in benefits shall not require any
increases in contribution, except as provided for in paragraph (b)
hereof; (As amended by Section 3, Presidential Decree No. 1641)
n.To appoint the personnel of its staff, subject to civil service law and
rules, but exempt from WAPCO law and regulations;
o.To adopt annually a budget of expenditures of the Commission and its
staff chargeable against the State Insurance Fund: Provided, That
the SSS and GSIS shall advance on a quarterly basis, the
remittances of allotment of the loading fund for the Commissions
operational expenses based on its annual budget as duly approved
by the Department of Budget and Management; (As amended by
Section 3, Presidential Decree No. 1921)
p.To have the power to administer oath and affirmation, and to issue
subpoena and subpoena duces tecum in connection with any
question or issue arising from appealed cases under this Title;
q.To sue and be sued in court;
r. To acquire property, real or personal, which may be necessary or
expedient for the attainment of the purposes of this Title;
s. To enter into agreements or contracts for such services and as may be
needed for the proper, efficient and stable administration of the
program;
t. To perform such other acts as it may deem appropriate for the
attainment of the purposes of the Commission and proper
enforcement of the provisions of this Title. (As amended by
Section 18, Presidential Decree No. 850)
Art. 178. Management of funds. All revenues collected by the System
under this Title shall be deposited, invested, administered and disbursed
in the same manner and under the same conditions, requirements and
safeguards as provided by Republic Act Numbered eleven hundred sixty-
one, as amended, with regard to such other funds as are thereunder being
paid to or collected by the SSS and GSIS, respectively: Provided, That
the Commission, SSS and GSIS may disburse each year not more than
twelve percent of the contribution and investment earnings collected for
operational expenses, including occupational health and safety programs,
incidental to the carrying out of this Title.
Art. 179. Investment of funds. Provisions of existing laws to the
contrary notwithstanding, all revenues as are not needed to meet current
operational expenses under this Title shall be accumulated in a fund to be
known as the State Insurance Fund, which shall be used exclusively for
payment of the benefits under this Title, and no amount thereof shall be
used for any other purpose. All amounts accruing to the State Insurance
Fund, which is hereby established in the SSS and GSIS, respectively,
shall be deposited with any authorized depository bank approved by the
Commission, or invested with due and prudent regard for the liquidity
needs of the System. (As amended by Section 4, Presidential Decree No.
1368)

Art. 180. Settlement of claims. The System shall have original and
exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising from this Title with
respect to coverage, entitlement to benefits, collection and payment of
contributions and penalties thereon, or any other matter related thereto,
subject to appeal to the Commission, which shall decide appealed cases
within twenty (20) working days from the submission of the evidence.

Art. 181. Review. Decisions, orders or resolutions of the Commission

may be reviewed on certiorari by the Supreme Court on question of law
upon petition of an aggrieved party within ten (10) days from notice
thereof.

Art. 182. Enforcement of decisions.

l. Any decision, order or resolution of the Commission shall become final

and executory if no appeal is taken therefrom within ten (10) days
from notice thereof. All awards granted by the Commission in
cases appealed from decisions of the System shall be effected
within fifteen days from receipt of notice.
m. In all other cases, decisions, orders and resolutions of the
Commission which have become final and executory shall be
enforced and executed in the same manner as decisions of the
Court of First Instance, and the Commission shall have the power
to issue to the city or provincial sheriff or to the sheriff whom it
may appoint, such writs of execution as may be necessary for the
enforcement of such decisions, orders or resolutions, and any
person who shall fail or refuse to comply therewith shall, upon
application by the Commission, be punished by the proper court for
contempt.
Chapter IVCONTRIBUTIONS
Art. 183. Employers contributions.

k.Under such regulations as the System may prescribe, beginning as of

the last day of the month when an employees compulsory
coverage takes effect and every month thereafter during his
employment, his employer shall prepare to remit to the System a
contribution equivalent to one percent of his monthly salary credit.
l. The rate of contribution shall be reviewed periodically and subject to
the limitations herein provided, may be revised as the experience in
risk, cost of administration and actual or anticipated as well as
unexpected losses, may require.
m. Contributions under this Title shall be paid in their entirety by the
employer and any contract or device for the deductions of any
portion thereof from the wages or salaries of the employees shall
be null and void.
n.When a covered employee dies, becomes disabled or is separated from
employment, his employers obligation to pay the monthly
contribution arising from that employment shall cease at the end of
the month of contingency and during such months that he is not
receiving wages or salary.
Art. 184. Government guarantee. The Republic of the Philippines
guarantees the benefits prescribed under this Title, and accepts general
responsibility for the solvency of the State Insurance Fund. In case of any
deficiency, the same shall be covered by supplemental appropriations
from the national government.

Chapter VMEDICAL BENEFITS

Art. 185. Medical services. Immediately after an employee contracts

sickness or sustains an injury, he shall be provided by the System during
the subsequent period of his disability with such medical services and
appliances as the nature of his sickness or injury and progress of his
recovery may require, subject to the expense limitation prescribed by the
Commission.

Art. 186. Liability. The System shall have the authority to choose or
order a change of physician, hospital or rehabilitation facility for the
employee, and shall not be liable for compensation for any aggravation of
the employees injury or sickness resulting from unauthorized changes by
the employee of medical services, appliances, supplies, hospitals,
rehabilitation facilities or physicians.

Art. 187. Attending physician. Any physician attending an injured or

sick employee shall comply with all the regulations of the System and
submit reports in prescribed forms at such time as may be required
concerning his condition or treatment. All medical information relevant to
the particular injury or sickness shall, on demand, be made available to
the employee or the System. No information developed in connection
with treatment or examination for which compensation is sought shall be
considered as privileged communication.

Art. 188. Refusal of examination or treatment. If the employee

unreasonably refuses to submit to medical examination or treatment, the
System shall stop the payment of further compensation during such time
as such refusal continues. What constitutes an unreasonable refusal shall
be determined by the System which may, on its own initiative, determine
the necessity, character and sufficiency of any medical services furnished
or to be furnished.

Art. 189. Fees and other charges. All fees and other charges for hospital
services, medical care and appliances, including professional fees, shall
not be higher than those prevailing in wards of hospitals for similar
services to injured or sick persons in general and shall be subject to the
regulations of the Commission. Professional fees shall only be
appreciably higher than those prescribed under Republic Act Numbered
sixty-one hundred eleven, as amended, otherwise known as the Philippine
Medical Care Act of 1969.

Art. 190. Rehabilitation services.

k.The System shall, as soon as practicable, establish a continuing

program, for the rehabilitation of injured and handicapped
employees who shall be entitled to rehabilitation services, which
shall consist of medical, surgical or hospital treatment, including
appliances if they have been handicapped by the injury, to help
them become physically independent.
l. As soon as practicable, the System shall establish centers equipped and
staffed to provide a balanced program of remedial treatment,
vocational assessment and preparation designed to meet the
individual needs of each handicapped employee to restore him to
suitable employment, including assistance as may be within its
resources, to help each rehabilitee to develop his mental, vocational
or social potential.
Chapter VIDISABILITY BENEFITS

Art. 191. Temporary total disability.

r. Under such regulations as the Commission may approve, any employee
under this Title who sustains an injury or contracts sickness
resulting in temporary total disability shall, for each day of such a
disability or fraction thereof, be paid by the System an income
benefit equivalent to ninety percent of his average daily salary
credit, subject to the following conditions: the daily income benefit
shall not be less than Ten Pesos nor more than Ninety Pesos, nor
paid for a continuous period longer than one hundred twenty days,
except as otherwise provided for in the Rules, and the System shall
be notified of the injury or sickness. (As amended by Section 2,
Executive Order No. 179)
s. The payment of such income benefit shall be in accordance with the
regulations of the Commission. (As amended by Section 19,
Presidential Decree No. 850)
Art. 192. Permanent total disability.

f. Under such regulations as the Commission may approve, any employee

under this Title who contracts sickness or sustains an injury
resulting in his permanent total disability shall, for each month
until his death, be paid by the System during such a disability, an
amount equivalent to the monthly income benefit, plus ten percent
thereof for each dependent child, but not exceeding five, beginning
with the youngest and without substitution: Provided, That the
monthly income benefit shall be the new amount of the monthly
benefit for all covered pensioners, effective upon approval of this
Decree.
g.The monthly income benefit shall be guaranteed for five years, and
shall be suspended if the employee is gainfully employed, or
recovers from his permanent total disability, or fails to present
himself for examination at least once a year upon notice by the
System, except as otherwise provided for in other laws, decrees,
orders or Letters of Instructions. (As amended by Section 5,
Presidential Decree No. 1641)
h.The following disabilities shall be deemed total and permanent:
0 Temporary total disability lasting continuously for more than one
hundred twenty days, except as otherwise provided for in the
Rules;
1 Complete loss of sight of both eyes;
2 Loss of two limbs at or above the ankle or wrist;
3 Permanent complete paralysis of two limbs;
4 Brain injury resulting in incurable imbecility or insanity; and
5 Such cases as determined by the Medical Director of the System
and approved by the Commission.
i. The number of months of paid coverage shall be defined and
approximated by a formula to be approved by the Commission.
Art. 193. Permanent partial disability.

i. Under such regulations as the Commission may approve, any employee

under this Title who contracts sickness or sustains an injury
resulting in permanent partial disability shall, for each month not
exceeding the period designated herein, be paid by the System
during such a disability an income benefit for permanent total
disability.
j. The benefit shall be paid for not more than the period designated in the
following schedules: Complete and permanent No. of Monthsloss
of the use ofOne thumb - 10One index finger - 8One middle finger
- 6One ring finger - 5One little finger - 3One big toe - 6One toe - 3
One arm - 50One hand - 39One foot - 31One leg - 46One ear - 10
Both ears - 20Hearing of one ear - 10Hearing of both ears - 50Sight
of one eye - 25
k.A loss of a wrist shall be considered as a loss of the hand, and a loss of
an elbow shall be considered as a loss of the arm. A loss of an
ankle shall be considered as loss of a foot, and a loss of a knee
shall be considered as a loss of the leg. A loss of more than one
joint shall be considered as a loss of one-half of the whole finger or
toe: Provided, That such a loss shall be either the functional loss of
the use or physical loss of the member. (As amended by Section 7,
Presidential Decree No. 1368)
l. In case of permanent partial disability less than the total loss of the
member specified in the preceding paragraph, the same monthly
income benefit shall be paid for a portion of the period established
for the total loss of the member in accordance with the proportion
that the partial loss bears to the total loss. If the result is a decimal
fraction, the same shall be rounded off to the next higher integer.
m. In cases of simultaneous loss of more than one member or a part
thereof as specified in this Article, the same monthly income
benefit shall be paid for a period equivalent to the sum of the
periods established for the loss of the member or the part thereof. If
the result is a decimal fraction, the same shall be rounded off to the
next higher integer.
n.In cases of injuries or illnesses resulting in a permanent partial
disability not listed in the preceding schedule, the benefit shall be
an income benefit equivalent to the percentage of the permanent
loss of the capacity to work. (As added by Section 7, Presidential
Decree No. 1368)
o.Under such regulations as the Commission may approve, the income
 benefit payable in case of permanent partial disability may be paid
in monthly pension or in lump sum if the period covered does not
exceed one year. (As added by Section 7, Presidential Decree No.
1368)
Chapter VIIDEATH BENEFITS

Art. 194. Death.

l. Under such regulations as the Commission may approve, the System

shall pay to the primary beneficiaries upon the death of the covered
employee under this Title, an amount equivalent to his monthly
income benefit, plus ten percent thereof for each dependent child,
but not exceeding five, beginning with the youngest and without
substitution, except as provided for in paragraph (j) of Article 167
hereof: Provided, however, That the monthly income benefit shall
be guaranteed for five years: Provided, further, That if he has no
primary beneficiary, the System shall pay to his secondary
beneficiaries the monthly income benefit but not to exceed sixty
months: Provided, finally, That the minimum death benefit shall
not be less than fifteen thousand pesos. (As amended by Section 4,
Presidential Decree No. 1921)
m. Under such regulations as the Commission may approve, the
System shall pay to the primary beneficiaries upon the death of a
covered employee who is under permanent total disability under
this Title, eighty percent of the monthly income benefit and his
dependents to the dependents pension: Provided, That the
marriage must have been validly subsisting at the time of
disability: Provided, further, That if he has no primary beneficiary,
the System shall pay to his secondary beneficiaries the monthly
pension excluding the dependents pension, of the remaining
balance of the five-year guaranteed period: Provided, finally, That
the minimum death benefit shall not be less than fifteen thousand
pesos. (As amended by Section 4, Presidential Decree No. 1921)
n.The monthly income benefit provided herein shall be the new amount
of the monthly income benefit for the surviving beneficiaries upon
the approval of this decree. (As amended by Section 8, Presidential
Decree No. 1368)
o.Funeral benefit. - A funeral benefit of Three thousand pesos (P3,000.00)
shall be paid upon the death of a covered employee or permanently
totally disabled pensioner. (As amended by Section 3, Executive
Order No. 179)
Chapter VIIIPROVISIONS COMMON TO INCOME BENEFITS
Art. 195. Relationship and dependency. All questions of relationship
and dependency shall be determined as of the time of death.

Art. 196. Delinquent contributions.

g.An employer who is delinquent in his contributions shall be liable to

the System for the benefits which may have been paid by the
System to his employees or their dependents, and any benefit and
expenses to which such employer is liable shall constitute a lien on
all his property, real or personal, which is hereby declared to be
preferred to any credit, except taxes. The payment by the employer
of the lump sum equivalent of such liability shall absolve him from
the payment of the delinquent contribution and penalty thereon
with respect to the employee concerned.
h.Failure or refusal of the employer to pay or remit the contribution
herein prescribed shall not prejudice the right of the employee or
his dependents to the benefits under this Title. If the sickness,
injury, disability or death occurs before the System receives any
report of the name of his employee, the employer shall be liable to
the System for the lump sum equivalent to the benefits to which
such employee or his dependents may be entitled.
Art. 197. Second injuries. If any employee under permanent partial
disability suffers another injury which results in a compensable disability
greater than the previous injury, the State Insurance Fund shall be liable
for the income benefit of the new disability: Provided, That if the new
disability is related to the previous disability, the System shall be liable
only for the difference in income benefits.

Art. 198. Assignment of benefits. No claim for compensation under this

Title is transferable or liable to tax, attachment, garnishment, levy or
seizure by or under any legal process whatsoever, either before or after
receipt by the person or persons entitled thereto, except to pay any debt of
the employee to the System.

Art. 199. Earned benefits. Income benefits shall, with respect to any
period of disability, be payable in accordance with this Title to an
employee who is entitled to receive wages, salaries or allowances for
holidays, vacation or sick leaves and any other award of benefit under a
collective bargaining or other agreement.

Art. 200. Safety devices. In case the employees injury or death was due
to the failure of the employer to comply with any law or to install and
maintain safety devices or to take other precautions for the prevention of
injury, said employer shall pay the State Insurance Fund a penalty of
twenty-five percent (25%) of the lump sum equivalent of the income
benefit payable by the System to the employee. All employers, specially
those who should have been paying a rate of contribution higher than
required of them under this Title, are enjoined to undertake and
strengthen measures for the occupational health and safety of their
employees.

Art. 201. Prescriptive period. No claim for compensation shall be given

due course unless said claim is filed with the System within three (3)
years from the time the cause of action accrued. (As amended by Section
5, Presidential Decree No. 1921)

Art. 202. Erroneous payment.

k.If the System in good faith pays income benefit to a dependent who is
inferior in right to another dependent or with whom another
dependent is entitled to share, such payments shall discharge the
System from liability, unless and until such other dependent
notifies the System of his claim prior to the payments.
l. In case of doubt as to the respective rights of rival claimants, the
System is hereby empowered to determine as to whom payments
should be made in accordance with such regulations as the
Commission may approve. If the money is payable to a minor or
incompetent, payment shall be made by the System to such person
or persons as it may consider to be best qualified to take care and
dispose of the minors or incompetents property for his benefit.
Art. 203. Prohibition. No agent, attorney or other person pursuing or in
charge of the preparation or filing of any claim for benefit under this Title
shall demand or charge for his services any fee, and any stipulation to the
contrary shall be null and void. The retention or deduction of any amount
from any benefit granted under this Title for the payment of fees for such
services is prohibited. Violation of any provision of this Article shall be
punished by a fine of not less than five hundred pesos nor more than five
thousand pesos, or imprisonment for not less than six months nor more
than one year, or both, at the discretion of the court.

Art. 204. Exemption from levy, tax, etc. All laws to the contrary
notwithstanding, the State Insurance Fund and all its assets shall be
exempt from any tax, fee, charge, levy, or customs or import duty and no
law hereafter enacted shall apply to the State Insurance Fund unless it is
provided therein that the same is applicable by expressly stating its name.
 Chapter IXRECORDS, REPORTS AND PENAL PROVISIONS

Art. 205. Record of death or disability.

g.All employers shall keep a logbook to record chronologically the

sickness, injury or death of their employees, setting forth therein
their names, dates and places of the contingency, nature of the
contingency and absences. Entries in the logbook shall be made
within five days from notice or knowledge of the occurrence of the
contingency. Within five days after entry in the logbook, the
employer shall report to the System only those contingencies he
deems to be work-connected.
h.All entries in the employers logbook shall be made by the employer or
any of his authorized official after verification of the contingencies
or the employees absences for a period of a day or more. Upon
request by the System, the employer shall furnish the necessary
certificate regarding information about any contingency appearing
in the logbook, citing the entry number, page number and date.
Such logbook shall be made available for inspection to the duly
authorized representative of the System.
i. Should any employer fail to record in the logbook an actual sickness,
injury or death of any of his employees within the period
prescribed herein, give false information or withhold material
information already in his possession, he shall be held liable for
fifty percent of the lump sum equivalent of the income benefit to
which the employee may be found to be entitled, the payment of
which shall accrue to the State Insurance Fund.
j. In case of payment of benefits for any claim which is later determined
to be fraudulent and the employer is found to be a party to the
fraud, such employer shall reimburse the System the full amount of
the compensation paid.
Art. 206. Notice of sickness, injury or death. Notice of sickness, injury
or death shall be given to the employer by the employee or by his
dependents or anybody on his behalf within five days from the
occurrence of the contingency. No notice to the employer shall be
required if the contingency is known to the employer or his agents or
representatives.
Art. 207. Penal provisions.

d.The penal provisions of Republic Act Numbered Eleven Hundred

Sixty-One, as amended, and Commonwealth Act Numbered One
Hundred Eighty-Six, as amended, with regard to the funds as are
thereunder being paid to, collected or disbursed by the System,
 shall be applicable to the collection, administration and
disbursement of the Funds under this Title. The penal provisions on
coverage shall also be applicable.
e.Any person who, for the purpose of securing entitlement to any benefit
or payment under this Title, or the issuance of any certificate or
document for any purpose connected with this Title, whether for
him or for some other person, commits fraud, collusion,
falsification, misrepresentation of facts or any other kind of
anomaly, shall be punished with a fine of not less than five hundred
pesos nor more than five thousand pesos and an imprisonment for
not less than six months nor more than one year, at the discretion of
the court.
f. If the act penalized by this Article is committed by any person who has
been or is employed by the Commission or System, or a recidivist,
the imprisonment shall not be less than one year; if committed by a
lawyer, physician or other professional, he shall, in addition to the
penalty prescribed herein, be disqualified from the practice of his
profession; and if committed by any official, employee or
personnel of the Commission, System or any government agency,
he shall, in addition to the penalty prescribed herein, be dismissed
with prejudice to re-employment in the government service.
Art. 208. Applicability. This Title shall apply only to injury, sickness,
disability or death occurring on or after January 1, 1975.
Art. 208-A. Repeal. All existing laws, Presidential Decrees and Letters
of Instructions which are inconsistent with or contrary to this Decree, are
hereby repealed: Provided, That in the case of the GSIS, conditions for
entitlement to benefits shall be governed by the Labor Code, as amended:
Provided, however, That the formulas for computation of benefits, as well
as the contribution base, shall be those provided under Commonwealth
Act Numbered One Hundred Eighty-Six, as amended by Presidential
Decree No. 1146, plus twenty percent thereof. (As added by Section 9,
Presidential Decree No. 1368 [May 1, 1978] and subsequently amended
by Section 7, Presidential Decree No. 1641)

Title IIIMEDICARE

Art. 209. Medical care. The Philippine Medical Care Plan shall be
implemented as provided under Republic Act Numbered Sixty-One
Hundred Eleven, as amended.

Title IVADULT EDUCATION

Art. 210. Adult education. Every employer shall render assistance in the
establishment and operation of adult education programs for their
workers and employees as prescribed by regulations jointly approved by
the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of
Education, Culture and Sports.
BOOK FIVE
LABOR RELATIONS

Title I
POLICY AND DEFINITIONS

Chapter I
POLICY
Art. 211. Declaration of Policy.

i. It is the policy of the State:

a. To promote and emphasize the primacy of free collective
bargaining and negotiations, including voluntary arbitration,
mediation and conciliation, as modes of settling labor or
industrial disputes;
b. To promote free trade unionism as an instrument for the
enhancement of democracy and the promotion of social
justice and development;
c. To foster the free and voluntary organization of a strong and
united labor movement;
d. To promote the enlightenment of workers concerning their
rights and obligations as union members and as employees;
e. To provide an adequate administrative machinery for the
expeditious settlement of labor or industrial disputes;
f. To ensure a stable but dynamic and just industrial peace;
and
g. To ensure the participation of workers in decision and
policy-making processes affecting their rights, duties and
welfare.
j. To encourage a truly democratic method of regulating the relations
between the employers and employees by means of agreements
freely entered into through collective bargaining, no court or
administrative agency or official shall have the power to set or fix
wages, rates of pay, hours of work or other terms and conditions of
employment, except as otherwise provided under this Code. (As
amended by Section 3, Republic Act No. 6715, March 21, 1989)
Chapter IIDEFINITIONS
Art. 212. Definitions.

e."Commission" means the National Labor Relations Commission or any

of its divisions, as the case may be, as provided under this Code.
f. "Bureau" means the Bureau of Labor Relations and/or the Labor
Relations Divisions in the regional offices established under
Presidential Decree No. 1, in the Department of Labor.
g."Board" means the National Conciliation and Mediation Board
established under Executive Order No. 126.
h."Council" means the Tripartite Voluntary Arbitration Advisory Council
established under Executive Order No. 126, as amended.
i. "Employer" includes any person acting in the interest of an employer,
directly or indirectly. The term shall not include any labor
organization or any of its officers or agents except when acting as
employer.
j. "Employee" includes any person in the employ of an employer. The
term shall not be limited to the employees of a particular employer,
unless the Code so explicitly states. It shall include any individual
whose work has ceased as a result of or in connection with any
current labor dispute or because of any unfair labor practice if he
has not obtained any other substantially equivalent and regular
employment.
k."Labor organization" means any union or association of employees
which exists in whole or in part for the purpose of collective
bargaining or of dealing with employers concerning terms and
conditions of employment.
l. "Legitimate labor organization" means any labor organization duly
registered with the Department of Labor and Employment, and
includes any branch or local thereof.
m. "Company union" means any labor organization whose formation,
function or administration has been assisted by any act defined as
unfair labor practice by this Code.
n."Bargaining representative" means a legitimate labor organization
whether or not employed by the employer.
o."Unfair labor practice" means any unfair labor practice as expressly
defined by the Code.
p."Labor dispute" includes any controversy or matter concerning terms
and conditions of employment or the association or representation
of persons in negotiating, fixing, maintaining, changing or
arranging the terms and conditions of employment, regardless of
whether the disputants stand in the proximate relation of employer
and employee.
q."Managerial employee" is one who is vested with the powers or
 prerogatives to lay down and execute management policies and/or
to hire, transfer, suspend, lay-off, recall, discharge, assign or
discipline employees. Supervisory employees are those who, in the
interest of the employer, effectively recommend such managerial
actions if the exercise of such authority is not merely routinary or
clerical in nature but requires the use of independent judgment. All
employees not falling within any of the above definitions are
considered rank-and-file employees for purposes of this Book.
r. "Voluntary Arbitrator" means any person accredited by the Board as
such or any person named or designated in the Collective
Bargaining Agreement by the parties to act as their Voluntary
Arbitrator, or one chosen with or without the assistance of the
National Conciliation and Mediation Board, pursuant to a selection
procedure agreed upon in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, or
any official that may be authorized by the Secretary of Labor and
Employment to act as Voluntary Arbitrator upon the written request
and agreement of the parties to a labor dispute.
s. "Strike" means any temporary stoppage of work by the concerted action
of employees as a result of an industrial or labor dispute.
t. "Lockout" means any temporary refusal of an employer to furnish work
as a result of an industrial or labor dispute.
u."Internal union dispute" includes all disputes or grievances arising from
any violation of or disagreement over any provision of the
constitution and by laws of a union, including any violation of the
rights and conditions of union membership provided for in this
Code.
v. "Strike-breaker" means any person who obstructs, impedes, or
interferes with by force, violence, coercion, threats, or intimidation
any peaceful picketing affecting wages, hours or conditions of
work or in the exercise of the right of self-organization or
collective bargaining.
w. "Strike area" means the establishment, warehouses, depots, plants
or offices, including the sites or premises used as runaway shops,
of the employer struck against, as well as the immediate vicinity
actually used by picketing strikers in moving to and fro before all
points of entrance to and exit from said establishment. (As
amended by Section 4, Republic Act No. 6715, March 21, 1989)
Title IINATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS COMMISSION

Chapter ICREATION AND COMPOSITION

Art. 213. National Labor Relations Commission. There shall be a

National Labor Relations Commission which shall be attached to the
Department of Labor and Employment for program and policy
coordination only, composed of a Chairman and fourteen (14) Members.

Five (5) members each shall be chosen from among the nominees of the
workers and employers organizations, respectively. The Chairman and the
four (4) remaining members shall come from the public sector, with the
latter to be chosen from among the recommendees of the Secretary of
Labor and Employment.

Upon assumption into office, the members nominated by the workers and
employers organizations shall divest themselves of any affiliation with or
interest in the federation or association to which they belong.

The Commission may sit en banc or in five (5) divisions, each composed
of three (3) members. Subject to the penultimate sentence of this
paragraph, the Commission shall sit en banc only for purposes of
promulgating rules and regulations governing the hearing and disposition
of cases before any of its divisions and regional branches, and
formulating policies affecting its administration and operations. The
Commission shall exercise its adjudicatory and all other powers,
functions, and duties through its divisions. Of the five (5) divisions, the
first, second and third divisions shall handle cases coming from the
National Capital Region and the parts of Luzon; and the fourth and fifth
divisions, cases from the Visayas and Mindanao, respectively; Provided
that the Commission sitting en banc may, on temporary or emergency
basis, allow cases within the jurisdiction of any division to be heard and
decided by any other division whose docket allows the additional
workload and such transfer will not expose litigants to unnecessary
additional expense. The divisions of the Commission shall have exclusive
appellate jurisdiction over cases within their respective territorial
jurisdictions. [As amended by Republic Act No. 7700].

The concurrence of two (2) Commissioners of a division shall be

necessary for the pronouncement of judgment or resolution. Whenever
the required membership in a division is not complete and the
concurrence of two (2) commissioners to arrive at a judgment or
resolution cannot be obtained, the Chairman shall designate such number
of additional Commissioners from the other divisions as may be
necessary.

The conclusions of a division on any case submitted to it for decision

shall be reached in consultation before the case is assigned to a member
for the writing of the opinion. It shall be mandatory for the division to
meet for purposes of the consultation ordained herein. A certification to
this effect signed by the Presiding Commissioner of the division shall be
issued and a copy thereof attached to the record of the case and served
upon the parties.

The Chairman shall be the Presiding Commissioner of the first division

and the four (4) other members from the public sector shall be the
Presiding Commissioners of the second, third, fourth and fifth divisions,
respectively. In case of the effective absence or incapacity of the
Chairman, the Presiding Commissioner of the second division shall be the
Acting Chairman.

The Chairman, aided by the Executive Clerk of the Commission, shall

have administrative supervision over the Commission and its regional
branches and all its personnel, including the Executive Labor Arbiters and
Labor Arbiters.

The Commission, when sitting en banc shall be assisted by the same

Executive Clerk and, when acting thru its Divisions, by said Executive
Clerks for the second, third, fourth and fifth Divisions, respectively, in the
performance of such similar or equivalent functions and duties as are
discharged by the Clerk of Court and Deputy Clerks of Court of the Court
of Appeals. (As amended by Section 5, Republic Act No. 6715, March
21, 1989)

Art. 214. Headquarters, Branches and Provincial Extension Units.

The Commission and its First, Second and Third divisions shall have their
main offices in Metropolitan Manila, and the Fourth and Fifth divisions in
the Cities of Cebu and Cagayan de Oro, respectively. The Commission
shall establish as many regional branches as there are regional offices of
the Department of Labor and Employment, sub-regional branches or
provincial extension units. There shall be as many Labor Arbiters as may
be necessary for the effective and efficient operation of the Commission.
Each regional branch shall be headed by an Executive Labor Arbiter. (As
amended by Section 6, Republic Act No. 6715, March 21, 1989)

Art. 215. Appointment and Qualifications. The Chairman and other

Commissioners shall be members of the Philippine Bar and must have
engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines for at least fifteen (15)
years, with at least five (5) years experience or exposure in the field of
labor-management relations, and shall preferably be residents of the
region where they are to hold office. The Executive Labor Arbiters and
Labor Arbiters shall likewise be members of the Philippine Bar and must
have been engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines for at least
seven (7) years, with at least three (3) years experience or exposure in the
field of labor-management relations: Provided, However, that incumbent
Executive Labor Arbiters and Labor Arbiters who have been engaged in
the practice of law for at least five (5) years may be considered as already
qualified for purposes of reappointment as such under this Act. The
Chairman and the other Commissioners, the Executive Labor Arbiters and
Labor Arbiters shall hold office during good behavior until they reach the
age of sixty-five years, unless sooner removed for cause as provided by
law or become incapacitated to discharge the duties of their office.

The Chairman, the division Presiding Commissioners and other

Commissioners shall be appointed by the President, subject to
confirmation by the Commission on Appointments. Appointment to any
vacancy shall come from the nominees of the sector which nominated the
predecessor. The Executive Labor Arbiters and Labor Arbiters shall also
be appointed by the President, upon recommendation of the Secretary of
Labor and Employment and shall be subject to the Civil Service Law,
rules and regulations.

The Secretary of Labor and Employment shall, in consultation with the

Chairman of the Commission, appoint the staff and employees of the
Commission and its regional branches as the needs of the service may
require, subject to the Civil Service Law, rules and regulations, and
upgrade their current salaries, benefits and other emoluments in
accordance with law. (As amended by Section 7, Republic Act No. 6715,
March 21, 1989)

Art. 216. Salaries, benefits and other emoluments. The Chairman and
members of the Commission shall receive an annual salary at least
equivalent to, and be entitled to the same allowances and benefits as those
of the Presiding Justice and Associate Justices of the Court of Appeals,
respectively. The Executive Labor Arbiters shall receive an annual salary
at least equivalent to that of an Assistant Regional Director of the
Department of Labor and Employment and shall be entitled to the same
allowances and benefits as that of a Regional Director of said
Department. The Labor Arbiters shall receive an annual salary at least
equivalent to, and be entitled to the same allowances and benefits as that
of an Assistant Regional Director of the Department of Labor and
Employment. In no case, however, shall the provision of this Article
result in the diminution of existing salaries, allowances and benefits of
the aforementioned officials. (As amended by Section 8, Republic Act
No. 6715, March 21, 1989)

Chapter IIPOWERS AND DUTIES

Art. 217. Jurisdiction of the Labor Arbiters and the Commission.

ll. Except as otherwise provided under this Code, the Labor Arbiters
shall have original and exclusive jurisdiction to hear and decide,
within thirty (30) calendar days after the submission of the case by
the parties for decision without extension, even in the absence of
stenographic notes, the following cases involving all workers,
whether agricultural or non-agricultural:
a. Unfair labor practice cases;
b. Termination disputes;
c. If accompanied with a claim for reinstatement, those cases
that workers may file involving wages, rates of pay, hours of
work and other terms and conditions of employment;
d. Claims for actual, moral, exemplary and other forms of
damages arising from the employer-employee relations;
e. Cases arising from any violation of Article 264 of this Code,
including questions involving the legality of strikes and
lockouts; and
f. Except claims for Employees Compensation, Social
Security, Medicare and maternity benefits, all other claims
arising from employer-employee relations, including those
of persons in domestic or household service, involving an
amount exceeding five thousand pesos (P5,000.00)
regardless of whether accompanied with a claim for
reinstatement.
mm. The Commission shall have exclusive appellate jurisdiction over
all cases decided by Labor Arbiters.
nn. Cases arising from the interpretation or implementation of
collective bargaining agreements and those arising from the
interpretation or enforcement of company personnel policies shall
be disposed of by the Labor Arbiter by referring the same to the
grievance machinery and voluntary arbitration as may be provided
in said agreements. (As amended by Section 9, Republic Act No.
6715, March 21, 1989)
Art. 218. Powers of the Commission. The Commission shall have the
power and authority:

n.To promulgate rules and regulations governing the hearing and

disposition of cases before it and its regional branches, as well as
those pertaining to its internal functions and such rules and
regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this
Code; (As amended by Section 10, Republic Act No. 6715, March
21, 1989)
o.To administer oaths, summon the parties to a controversy, issue
subpoenas requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses or
the production of such books, papers, contracts, records, statement
of accounts, agreements, and others as may be material to a just
determination of the matter under investigation, and to testify in
any investigation or hearing conducted in pursuance of this Code;
p.To conduct investigation for the determination of a question, matter or
controversy within its jurisdiction, proceed to hear and determine
the disputes in the absence of any party thereto who has been
summoned or served with notice to appear, conduct its proceedings
or any part thereof in public or in private, adjourn its hearings to
any time and place, refer technical matters or accounts to an expert
and to accept his report as evidence after hearing of the parties
upon due notice, direct parties to be joined in or excluded from the
proceedings, correct, amend, or waive any error, defect or
irregularity whether in substance or in form, give all such
directions as it may deem necessary or expedient in the
determination of the dispute before it, and dismiss any matter or
refrain from further hearing or from determining the dispute or part
thereof, where it is trivial or where further proceedings by the
Commission are not necessary or desirable; and
q.To hold any person in contempt directly or indirectly and impose
appropriate penalties therefor in accordance with law. A person
guilty of misbehavior in the presence of or so near the Chairman or
any member of the Commission or any Labor Arbiter as to obstruct
or interrupt the proceedings before the same, including disrespect
toward said officials, offensive personalities toward others, or
refusal to be sworn, or to answer as a witness or to subscribe an
affidavit or deposition when lawfully required to do so, may be
summarily adjudged in direct contempt by said officials and
punished by fine not exceeding five hundred pesos (P500) or
imprisonment not exceeding five (5) days, or both, if it be the
Commission, or a member thereof, or by a fine not exceeding one
hundred pesos (P100) or imprisonment not exceeding one (1) day,
or both, if it be a Labor Arbiter. The person adjudged in direct
contempt by a Labor Arbiter may appeal to the Commission and
the execution of the judgment shall be suspended pending the
resolution of the appeal upon the filing by such person of a bond on
condition that he will abide by and perform the judgment of the
Commission should the appeal be decided against him. Judgment
of the Commission on direct contempt is immediately executory
and unappealable. Indirect contempt shall be dealt with by the
Commission or Labor Arbiter in the manner prescribed under Rule
 71 of the Revised Rules of Court; and (As amended by Section 10,
Republic Act No. 6715, March 21, 1989)
r. To enjoin or restrain any actual or threatened commission of any or all
prohibited or unlawful acts or to require the performance of a
particular act in any labor dispute which, if not restrained or
performed forthwith, may cause grave or irreparable damage to any
party or render ineffectual any decision in favor of such party:
Provided, That no temporary or permanent injunction in any case
involving or growing out of a labor dispute as defined in this Code
shall be issued except after hearing the testimony of witnesses,
with opportunity for cross-examination, in support of the
allegations of a complaint made under oath, and testimony in
opposition thereto, if offered, and only after a finding of fact by the
Commission, to the effect:
1. That prohibited or unlawful acts have been threatened and will be
committed and will be continued unless restrained, but no
injunction or temporary restraining order shall be issued on
account of any threat, prohibited or unlawful act, except
against the person or persons, association or organization
making the threat or committing the prohibited or unlawful
act or actually authorizing or ratifying the same after actual
knowledge thereof;
2. That substantial and irreparable injury to complainants property
will follow;
3. That as to each item of relief to be granted, greater injury will be
inflicted upon complainant by the denial of relief than will
be inflicted upon defendants by the granting of relief;
4. That complainant has no adequate remedy at law; and
5. That the public officers charged with the duty to protect
complainants property are unable or unwilling to furnish
adequate protection.
s. Such hearing shall be held after due and personal notice thereof has
been served, in such manner as the Commission shall direct, to all
known persons against whom relief is sought, and also to the Chief
Executive and other public officials of the province or city within
which the unlawful acts have been threatened or committed,
charged with the duty to protect complainants property: Provided,
however, that if a complainant shall also allege that, unless a
temporary restraining order shall be issued without notice, a
substantial and irreparable injury to complainants property will be
unavoidable, such a temporary restraining order may be issued
upon testimony under oath, sufficient, if sustained, to justify the
Commission in issuing a temporary injunction upon hearing after
 notice. Such a temporary restraining order shall be effective for no
longer than twenty (20) days and shall become void at the
expiration of said twenty (20) days. No such temporary restraining
order or temporary injunction shall be issued except on condition
that complainant shall first file an undertaking with adequate
security in an amount to be fixed by the Commission sufficient to
recompense those enjoined for any loss, expense or damage caused
by the improvident or erroneous issuance of such order or
injunction, including all reasonable costs, together with a
reasonable attorneys fee, and expense of defense against the order
or against the granting of any injunctive relief sought in the same
proceeding and subsequently denied by the Commission. The
undertaking herein mentioned shall be understood to constitute an
agreement entered into by the complainant and the surety upon
which an order may be rendered in the same suit or proceeding
against said complainant and surety, upon a hearing to assess
damages, of which hearing, complainant and surety shall have
reasonable notice, the said complainant and surety submitting
themselves to the jurisdiction of the Commission for that purpose.
But nothing herein contained shall deprive any party having a
claim or cause of action under or upon such undertaking from
electing to pursue his ordinary remedy by suit at law or in equity:
Provided, further, That the reception of evidence for the application
of a writ of injunction may be delegated by the Commission to any
of its Labor Arbiters who shall conduct such hearings in such
places as he may determine to be accessible to the parties and their
witnesses and shall submit thereafter his recommendation to the
Commission. (As amended by Section 10, Republic Act No. 6715,
March 21, 1989)
Art. 219. Ocular inspection. The Chairman, any Commissioner, Labor
Arbiter or their duly authorized representatives, may, at any time during
working hours, conduct an ocular inspection on any establishment,
building, ship or vessel, place or premises, including any work, material,
implement, machinery, appliance or any object therein, and ask any
employee, laborer, or any person, as the case may be, for any information
or data concerning any matter or question relative to the object of the
investigation.

[ Art. 220. Compulsory arbitration. The Commission or any Labor

Arbiter shall have the power to ask the assistance of other government
officials and qualified private citizens to act as compulsory arbitrators on
cases referred to them and to fix and assess the fees of such compulsory
arbitrators, taking into account the nature of the case, the time consumed
in hearing the case, the professional standing of the arbitrators, the
financial capacity of the parties, and the fees provided in the Rules of
Court.] (Repealed by Section 16, Batas Pambansa Bilang 130, August 21,
1981)

Art. 221. Technical rules not binding and prior resort to amicable
settlement. In any proceeding before the Commission or any of the Labor
Arbiters, the rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law or equity shall
not be controlling and it is the spirit and intention of this Code that the
Commission and its members and the Labor Arbiters shall use every and
all reasonable means to ascertain the facts in each case speedily and
objectively and without regard to technicalities of law or procedure, all in
the interest of due process. In any proceeding before the Commission or
any Labor Arbiter, the parties may be represented by legal counsel but it
shall be the duty of the Chairman, any Presiding Commissioner or
Commissioner or any Labor Arbiter to exercise complete control of the
proceedings at all stages.

Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, the Labor Arbiter

shall exert all efforts towards the amicable settlement of a labor dispute
within his jurisdiction on or before the first hearing. The same rule shall
apply to the Commission in the exercise of its original jurisdiction. (As
amended by Section 11, Republic Act No. 6715, March 21, 1989)

Art. 222. Appearances and Fees.

8.Non-lawyers may appear before the Commission or any Labor Arbiter

only:
a. If they represent themselves; or
b. If they represent their organization or members thereof.
9.No attorneys fees, negotiation fees or similar charges of any kind
arising from any collective bargaining agreement shall be imposed
on any individual member of the contracting union: Provided,
However, that attorneys fees may be charged against union funds
in an amount to be agreed upon by the parties. Any contract,
agreement or arrangement of any sort to the contrary shall be null
and void. (As amended by Presidential Decree No. 1691, May 1,
1980)
Chapter IIIAPPEAL

Art. 223. Appeal. Decisions, awards, or orders of the Labor Arbiter are
final and executory unless appealed to the Commission by any or both
parties within ten (10) calendar days from receipt of such decisions,
awards, or orders. Such appeal may be entertained only on any of the
following grounds:

u.If there is prima facie evidence of abuse of discretion on the part of the
Labor Arbiter;
v. If the decision, order or award was secured through fraud or coercion,
including graft and corruption;
w. If made purely on questions of law; and
x.If serious errors in the findings of facts are raised which would cause
grave or irreparable damage or injury to the appellant.
In case of a judgment involving a monetary award, an appeal by the
employer may be perfected only upon the posting of a cash or surety
bond issued by a reputable bonding company duly accredited by the
Commission in the amount equivalent to the monetary award in the
judgment appealed from.

In any event, the decision of the Labor Arbiter reinstating a dismissed or

separated employee, insofar as the reinstatement aspect is concerned,
shall immediately be executory, even pending appeal. The employee shall
either be admitted back to work under the same terms and conditions
prevailing prior to his dismissal or separation or, at the option of the
employer, merely reinstated in the payroll. The posting of a bond by the
employer shall not stay the execution for reinstatement provided herein.

To discourage frivolous or dilatory appeals, the Commission or the Labor

Arbiter shall impose reasonable penalty, including fines or censures, upon
the erring parties.

In all cases, the appellant shall furnish a copy of the memorandum of

appeal to the other party who shall file an answer not later than ten (10)
calendar days from receipt thereof.

The Commission shall decide all cases within twenty (20) calendar days
from receipt of the answer of the appellee. The decision of the
Commission shall be final and executory after ten (10) calendar days
from receipt thereof by the parties.

Any law enforcement agency may be deputized by the Secretary of Labor

and Employment or the Commission in the enforcement of decisions,
awards or orders. (As amended by Section 12, Republic Act No. 6715,
March 21, 1989)

Art. 224. Execution of decisions, orders or awards.

n.The Secretary of Labor and Employment or any Regional Director, the
Commission or any Labor Arbiter, or Med-Arbiter or Voluntary
Arbitrator may, motu proprio or on motion of any interested party,
issue a writ of execution on a judgment within five (5) years from
the date it becomes final and executory, requiring a sheriff or a
duly deputized officer to execute or enforce final decisions, orders
or awards of the Secretary of Labor and Employment or regional
director, the Commission, the Labor Arbiter or med-arbiter, or
voluntary arbitrators. In any case, it shall be the duty of the
responsible officer to separately furnish immediately the counsels
of record and the parties with copies of said decisions, orders or
awards. Failure to comply with the duty prescribed herein shall
subject such responsible officer to appropriate administrative
sanctions.
o.The Secretary of Labor and Employment, and the Chairman of the
Commission may designate special sheriffs and take any measure
under existing laws to ensure compliance with their decisions,
orders or awards and those of the Labor Arbiters and voluntary
arbitrators, including the imposition of administrative fines which
shall not be less than P500.00 nor more than P10,000.00. (As
amended by Section 13, Republic Act No. 6715, March 21, 1989)
Art. 225. Contempt powers of the Secretary of Labor. In the exercise
of his powers under this Code, the Secretary of Labor may hold any
person in direct or indirect contempt and impose the appropriate penalties
therefor.

Title IIIBUREAU OF LABOR RELATIONS

Art. 226. Bureau of Labor Relations. The Bureau of Labor Relations

and the Labor Relations Divisions in the regional offices of the
Department of Labor, shall have original and exclusive authority to act, at
their own initiative or upon request of either or both parties, on all inter-
union and intra-union conflicts, and all disputes, grievances or problems
arising from or affecting labor-management relations in all workplaces,
whether agricultural or non-agricultural, except those arising from the
implementation or interpretation of collective bargaining agreements
which shall be the subject of grievance procedure and/or voluntary
arbitration.

The Bureau shall have fifteen (15) working days to act on labor cases
before it, subject to extension by agreement of the parties. (As amended
by Section 14, Republic Act No. 6715, March 21, 1989).
Art. 227. Compromise agreements. Any compromise settlement,
including those involving labor standard laws, voluntarily agreed upon by
the parties with the assistance of the Bureau or the regional office of the
Department of Labor, shall be final and binding upon the parties. The
National Labor Relations Commission or any court, shall not assume
jurisdiction over issues involved therein except in case of non-compliance
thereof or if there is prima facie evidence that the settlement was obtained
through fraud, misrepresentation, or coercion.

[ Art. 228. Indorsement of cases to Labor Arbiters.

o.Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this Article, the Labor Arbiter

shall entertain only cases endorsed to him for compulsory
arbitration by the Bureau or by the Regional Director with a written
notice of such indorsement or non-indorsement. The indorsement
or non-indorsement of the Regional Director may be appealed to
the Bureau within ten (10) working days from receipt of the
notice.
p.The parties may, at any time, by mutual agreement, withdraw a case
from the Conciliation Section and jointly submit it to a Labor
Arbiter, except deadlocks in collective bargaining.] (Repealed by
Section 16, Batas Pambansa Bilang 130, August 21, 1981)
Art. 229. Issuance of subpoenas. The Bureau shall have the power to
require the appearance of any person or the production of any paper,
document or matter relevant to a labor dispute under its jurisdiction,
either at the request of any interested party or at its own initiative.

Art. 230. Appointment of bureau personnel. The Secretary of Labor

and Employment may appoint, in addition to the present personnel of the
Bureau and the Industrial Relations Divisions, such number of examiners
and other assistants as may be necessary to carry out the purpose of the
Code. (As amended by Section 15, Republic Act No. 6715, March 21,
1989)

Art. 231. Registry of unions and file of collective bargaining

agreements. The Bureau shall keep a registry of legitimate labor
organizations. The Bureau shall also maintain a file of all collective
bargaining agreements and other related agreements and records of
settlement of labor disputes and copies of orders and decisions of
voluntary arbitrators. The file shall be open and accessible to interested
parties under conditions prescribed by the Secretary of Labor and
Employment, provided that no specific information submitted in
confidence shall be disclosed unless authorized by the Secretary, or when
it is at issue in any judicial litigation, or when public interest or national
security so requires.

Within thirty (30) days from the execution of a Collective Bargaining

Agreement, the parties shall submit copies of the same directly to the
Bureau or the Regional Offices of the Department of Labor and
Employment for registration, accompanied with verified proofs of its
posting in two conspicuous places in the place of work and ratification by
the majority of all the workers in the bargaining unit. The Bureau or
Regional Offices shall act upon the application for registration of such
Collective Bargaining Agreement within five (5) calendar days from
receipt thereof. The Regional Offices shall furnish the Bureau with a copy
of the Collective Bargaining Agreement within five (5) days from its
submission.

The Bureau or Regional Office shall assess the employer for every
Collective Bargaining Agreement a registration fee of not less than one
thousand pesos (P1,000.00) or in any other amount as may be deemed
appropriate and necessary by the Secretary of Labor and Employment for
the effective and efficient administration of the Voluntary Arbitration
Program. Any amount collected under this provision shall accrue to the
Special Voluntary Arbitration Fund.

The Bureau shall also maintain a file and shall undertake or assist in the
publication of all final decisions, orders and awards of the Secretary of
Labor and Employment, Regional Directors and the Commission. (As
amended by Section 15, Republic Act No. 6715, March 21, 1989)

Art. 232. Prohibition on certification election. The Bureau shall not

entertain any petition for certification election or any other action which
may disturb the administration of duly registered existing collective
bargaining agreements affecting the parties except under Articles 253,
253-A and 256 of this Code. (As amended by Section 15, Republic Act
No. 6715, March 21, 1989)

Art. 233. Privileged communication. Information and statements made

at conciliation proceedings shall be treated as privileged communication
and shall not be used as evidence in the Commission. Conciliators and
similar officials shall not testify in any court or body regarding any
matters taken up at conciliation proceedings conducted by them.

Title IVLABOR ORGANIZATIONS

Chapter IREGISTRATION AND CANCELLATION

Art. 234. Requirements of registration. Any applicant labor
organization, association or group of unions or workers shall acquire
legal personality and shall be entitled to the rights and privileges granted
by law to legitimate labor organizations upon issuance of the certificate
of registration based on the following requirements.

m. Fifty pesos (P50.00) registration fee;

n.The names of its officers, their addresses, the principal address of the
labor organization, the minutes of the organizational meetings and
the list of the workers who participated in such meetings;
o.The names of all its members comprising at least twenty percent (20%)
of all the employees in the bargaining unit where it seeks to
operate; (As amended by Executive Order No. 111, December 24,
1986)
p.If the applicant union has been in existence for one or more years,
copies of its annual financial reports; and
q.Four (4) copies of the constitution and by-laws of the applicant union,
minutes of its adoption or ratification, and the list of the members
who participated in it. (As amended by Batas Pambansa Bilang
130, August 21, 1981)
Art. 235. Action on application. The Bureau shall act on all applications
for registration within thirty (30) days from filing.

All requisite documents and papers shall be certified under oath by the
secretary or the treasurer of the organization, as the case may be, and
attested to by its president.

Art. 236. Denial of registration; appeal. The decision of the Labor

Relations Division in the regional office denying registration may be
appealed by the applicant union to the Bureau within ten (10) days from
receipt of notice thereof.

Art. 237. Additional requirements for federations or national unions.

Subject to Article 238, if the applicant for registration is a federation or a
national union, it shall, in addition to the requirements of the preceding
Articles, submit the following:

t. Proof of the affiliation of at least ten (10) locals or chapters, each of

which must be a duly recognized collective bargaining agent in the
establishment or industry in which it operates, supporting the
registration of such applicant federation or national union; and
u.The names and addresses of the companies where the locals or chapters
operate and the list of all the members in each company involved.
[ Art. 238. Conditions for registration of federations or national
unions. No federation or national union shall be registered to engage in
any organization activity in more than one industry in any area or region,
and no federation or national union shall be registered to engage in any
organizational activity in more than one industry all over the country.

The federation or national union which meets the requirements and

conditions herein prescribed may organize and affiliate locals and
chapters without registering such locals or chapters with the Bureau.

Locals or chapters shall have the same rights and privileges as if they
were registered in the Bureau, provided that such federation or national
union organizes such locals or chapters within its assigned organizational
field of activity as may be prescribed by the Secretary of Labor.

The Bureau shall see to it that federations and national unions shall only
organize locals and chapters within a specific industry or union.]
(Repealed by Executive Order No. 111, December 24, 1986)

Art. 238. Cancellation of registration; appeal. The certificate of

registration of any legitimate labor organization, whether national or
local, shall be cancelled by the Bureau if it has reason to believe, after
due hearing, that the said labor organization no longer meets one or more
of the requirements herein prescribed.

[The Bureau upon approval of this Code shall immediately institute

cancellation proceedings and take such other steps as may be necessary to
restructure all existing registered labor organizations in accordance with
the objective envisioned above.] (Repealed by Executive Order No. 111,
December 24, 1986)

Art. 239. Grounds for cancellation of union registration. The

following shall constitute grounds for cancellation of union registration:

j. Misrepresentation, false statement or fraud in connection with the

adoption or ratification of the constitution and by-laws or
amendments thereto, the minutes of ratification and the list of
members who took part in the ratification;
k.Failure to submit the documents mentioned in the preceding paragraph
within thirty (30) days from adoption or ratification of the
constitution and by-laws or amendments thereto;
l. Misrepresentation, false statements or fraud in connection with the
election of officers, minutes of the election of officers, the list of
voters, or failure to submit these documents together with the list
 of the newly elected/appointed officers and their postal addresses
within thirty (30) days from election;
m. Failure to submit the annual financial report to the Bureau within
thirty (30) days after the closing of every fiscal year and
misrepresentation, false entries or fraud in the preparation of the
financial report itself;
n.Acting as a labor contractor or engaging in the "cabo" system, or
otherwise engaging in any activity prohibited by law;
o.Entering into collective bargaining agreements which provide terms and
conditions of employment below minimum standards established
by law;
p.Asking for or accepting attorneys fees or negotiation fees from
employers;
q.Other than for mandatory activities under this Code, checking off
special assessments or any other fees without duly signed
individual written authorizations of the members;
r. Failure to submit list of individual members to the Bureau once a year
or whenever required by the Bureau; and
s. Failure to comply with requirements under Articles 237 and 238.
Art. 240. Equity of the incumbent. All existing federations and national
unions which meet the qualifications of a legitimate labor organization
and none of the grounds for cancellation shall continue to maintain their
existing affiliates regardless of the nature of the industry and the location
of the affiliates.

Chapter IIRIGHTS AND CONDITIONS OF MEMBERSHIP

Art. 241. Rights and conditions of membership in a labor

organization. The following are the rights and conditions of membership
in a labor organization:

p.No arbitrary or excessive initiation fees shall be required of the

members of a legitimate labor organization nor shall arbitrary,
excessive or oppressive fine and forfeiture be imposed;
q.The members shall be entitled to full and detailed reports from their
officers and representatives of all financial transactions as provided
for in the constitution and by-laws of the organization;
r. The members shall directly elect their officers, including those of the
national union or federation, to which they or their union is
affiliated, by secret ballot at intervals of five (5) years. No
qualification requirements for candidacy to any position shall be
imposed other than membership in good standing in subject labor
organization. The secretary or any other responsible union officer
 shall furnish the Secretary of Labor and Employment with a list of
the newly-elected officers, together with the appointive officers or
agents who are entrusted with the handling of funds, within thirty
(30) calendar days after the election of officers or from the
occurrence of any change in the list of officers of the labor
organization; (As amended by Section 16, Republic Act No. 6715,
March 21, 1989)
s. The members shall determine by secret ballot, after due deliberation,
any question of major policy affecting the entire membership of the
organization, unless the nature of the organization or force majeure
renders such secret ballot impractical, in which case, the board of
directors of the organization may make the decision in behalf of the
general membership;
t. No labor organization shall knowingly admit as members or continue in
membership any individual who belongs to a subversive
organization or who is engaged directly or indirectly in any
subversive activity;
u.No person who has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude
shall be eligible for election as a union officer or for appointment
to any position in the union;
v. No officer, agent or member of a labor organization shall collect any
fees, dues, or other contributions in its behalf or make any
disbursement of its money or funds unless he is duly authorized
pursuant to its constitution and by-laws;
w. Every payment of fees, dues or other contributions by a member
shall be evidenced by a receipt signed by the officer or agent
making the collection and entered into the record of the
organization to be kept and maintained for the purpose;
x.The funds of the organization shall not be applied for any purpose or
object other than those expressly provided by its constitution and
by-laws or those expressly authorized by written resolution
adopted by the majority of the members at a general meeting duly
called for the purpose;
y. Every income or revenue of the organization shall be evidenced by a
record showing its source, and every expenditure of its funds shall
be evidenced by a receipt from the person to whom the payment is
made, which shall state the date, place and purpose of such
payment. Such record or receipt shall form part of the financial
records of the organization. Any action involving the funds of the
organization shall prescribe after three (3) years from the date of
submission of the annual financial report to the Department of
Labor and Employment or from the date the same should have
been submitted as required by law, whichever comes earlier:
 Provided, That this provision shall apply only to a legitimate labor
organization which has submitted the financial report requirements
under this Code: Provided, further, that failure of any labor
organization to comply with the periodic financial reports required
by law and such rules and regulations promulgated thereunder six
(6) months after the effectivity of this Act shall automatically result
in the cancellation of union registration of such labor organization;
(As amended by Section 16, Republic Act No. 6715, March 21,
1989)
z.The officers of any labor organization shall not be paid any
compensation other than the salaries and expenses due to their
positions as specifically provided for in its constitution and by-
laws, or in a written resolution duly authorized by a majority of all
the members at a general membership meeting duly called for the
purpose. The minutes of the meeting and the list of participants and
ballots cast shall be subject to inspection by the Secretary of Labor
or his duly authorized representatives. Any irregularities in the
approval of the resolutions shall be a ground for impeachment or
expulsion from the organization;
aa. The treasurer of any labor organization and every officer thereof
who is responsible for the account of such organization or for the
collection, management, disbursement, custody or control of the
funds, moneys and other properties of the organization, shall render
to the organization and to its members a true and correct account of
all moneys received and paid by him since he assumed office or
since the last day on which he rendered such account, and of all
bonds, securities and other properties of the organization entrusted
to his custody or under his control. The rendering of such account
shall be made:
0 At least once a year within thirty (30) days after the close of its
fiscal year;
1 At such other times as may be required by a resolution of the
majority of the members of the organization; and
2 Upon vacating his office.
bb. The account shall be duly audited and verified by affidavit and a
copy thereof shall be furnished the Secretary of Labor.
cc. The books of accounts and other records of the financial activities
of any labor organization shall be open to inspection by any officer
or member thereof during office hours;
dd. No special assessment or other extraordinary fees may be levied
upon the members of a labor organization unless authorized by a
written resolution of a majority of all the members in a general
membership meeting duly called for the purpose. The secretary of
 the organization shall record the minutes of the meeting including
the list of all members present, the votes cast, the purpose of the
special assessment or fees and the recipient of such assessment or
fees. The record shall be attested to by the president.
ee. Other than for mandatory activities under the Code, no special
assessments, attorneys fees, negotiation fees or any other
extraordinary fees may be checked off from any amount due to an
employee without an individual written authorization duly signed
by the employee. The authorization should specifically state the
amount, purpose and beneficiary of the deduction; and
ff. It shall be the duty of any labor organization and its officers to
inform its members on the provisions of its constitution and by-
laws, collective bargaining agreement, the prevailing labor
relations system and all their rights and obligations under existing
labor laws.
For this purpose, registered labor organizations may assess reasonable
dues to finance labor relations seminars and other labor education
activities.

Any violation of the above rights and conditions of membership shall be a

ground for cancellation of union registration or expulsion of officers from
office, whichever is appropriate. At least thirty percent (30%) of the
members of a union or any member or members specially concerned may
report such violation to the Bureau. The Bureau shall have the power to
hear and decide any reported violation to mete the appropriate penalty.

Criminal and civil liabilities arising from violations of above rights and
conditions of membership shall continue to be under the jurisdiction of
ordinary courts.

Chapter IIIRIGHTS OF LEGITIMATE LABOR ORGANIZATIONS

Art. 242. Rights of legitimate labor organizations. A legitimate labor

organization shall have the right:

p.To act as the representative of its members for the purpose of collective
bargaining;
q.To be certified as the exclusive representative of all the employees in an
appropriate bargaining unit for purposes of collective bargaining;
r. To be furnished by the employer, upon written request, with its annual
audited financial statements, including the balance sheet and the
profit and loss statement, within thirty (30) calendar days from the
date of receipt of the request, after the union has been duly
 recognized by the employer or certified as the sole and exclusive
bargaining representative of the employees in the bargaining unit,
or within sixty (60) calendar days before the expiration of the
existing collective bargaining agreement, or during the collective
bargaining negotiation;
s. To own property, real or personal, for the use and benefit of the labor
organization and its members;
t. To sue and be sued in its registered name; and
u.To undertake all other activities designed to benefit the organization
and its members, including cooperative, housing, welfare and other
projects not contrary to law.
Notwithstanding any provision of a general or special law to the contrary,
the income and the properties of legitimate labor organizations, including
grants, endowments, gifts, donations and contributions they may receive
from fraternal and similar organizations, local or foreign, which are
actually, directly and exclusively used for their lawful purposes, shall be
free from taxes, duties and other assessments. The exemptions provided
herein may be withdrawn only by a special law expressly repealing this
provision. (As amended by Section 17, Republic Act No. 6715, March 21,
1989)

Title VCOVERAGE

Art. 243. Coverage and employees right to self-organization. All

persons employed in commercial, industrial and agricultural enterprises
and in religious, charitable, medical, or educational institutions, whether
operating for profit or not, shall have the right to self-organization and to
form, join, or assist labor organizations of their own choosing for
purposes of collective bargaining. Ambulant, intermittent and itinerant
workers, self-employed people, rural workers and those without any
definite employers may form labor organizations for their mutual aid and
protection. (As amended by Batas Pambansa Bilang 70, May 1, 1980)

Art. 244. Right of employees in the public service. Employees of

government corporations established under the Corporation Code shall
have the right to organize and to bargain collectively with their respective
employers. All other employees in the civil service shall have the right to
form associations for purposes not contrary to law. (As amended by
Executive Order No. 111, December 24, 1986)

Art. 245. Ineligibility of managerial employees to join any labor

organization; right of supervisory employees. Managerial employees
are not eligible to join, assist or form any labor organization. Supervisory
employees shall not be eligible for membership in a labor organization of
the rank-and-file employees but may join, assist or form separate labor
organizations of their own. (As amended by Section 18, Republic Act No.
6715, March 21, 1989)

Art. 246. Non-abridgment of right to self-organization. It shall be

unlawful for any person to restrain, coerce, discriminate against or unduly
interfere with employees and workers in their exercise of the right to self-
organization. Such right shall include the right to form, join, or assist
labor organizations for the purpose of collective bargaining through
representatives of their own choosing and to engage in lawful concerted
activities for the same purpose for their mutual aid and protection, subject
to the provisions of Article 264 of this Code. (As amended by Batas
Pambansa Bilang 70, May 1, 1980)

Title VIUNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES

Chapter ICONCEPT

Art. 247. Concept of unfair labor practice and procedure for

prosecution thereof. Unfair labor practices violate the constitutional
right of workers and employees to self-organization, are inimical to the
legitimate interests of both labor and management, including their right to
bargain collectively and otherwise deal with each other in an atmosphere
of freedom and mutual respect, disrupt industrial peace and hinder the
promotion of healthy and stable labor-management relations.

Consequently, unfair labor practices are not only violations of the civil
rights of both labor and management but are also criminal offenses
against the State which shall be subject to prosecution and punishment as
herein provided.

Subject to the exercise by the President or by the Secretary of Labor and

Employment of the powers vested in them by Articles 263 and 264 of this
Code, the civil aspects of all cases involving unfair labor practices, which
may include claims for actual, moral, exemplary and other forms of
damages, attorneys fees and other affirmative relief, shall be under the
jurisdiction of the Labor Arbiters. The Labor Arbiters shall give utmost
priority to the hearing and resolution of all cases involving unfair labor
practices. They shall resolve such cases within thirty (30) calendar days
from the time they are submitted for decision.

Recovery of civil liability in the administrative proceedings shall bar

recovery under the Civil Code.
No criminal prosecution under this Title may be instituted without a final
judgment finding that an unfair labor practice was committed, having
been first obtained in the preceding paragraph. During the pendency of
such administrative proceeding, the running of the period of prescription
of the criminal offense herein penalized shall be considered interrupted:
Provided, however, that the final judgment in the administrative
proceedings shall not be binding in the criminal case nor be considered as
evidence of guilt but merely as proof of compliance of the requirements
therein set forth. (As amended by Batas Pambansa Bilang 70, May 1,
1980 and later further amended by Section 19, Republic Act No. 6715,
March 21, 1989)

Chapter IIUNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES OF EMPLOYERS

Art. 248. Unfair labor practices of employers. It shall be unlawful for

an employer to commit any of the following unfair labor practice:

i. To interfere with, restrain or coerce employees in the exercise of their

right to self-organization;
j. To require as a condition of employment that a person or an employee
shall not join a labor organization or shall withdraw from one to
which he belongs;
k.To contract out services or functions being performed by union
members when such will interfere with, restrain or coerce
employees in the exercise of their rights to self-organization;
l. To initiate, dominate, assist or otherwise interfere with the formation or
administration of any labor organization, including the giving of
financial or other support to it or its organizers or supporters;
m. To discriminate in regard to wages, hours of work and other terms
and conditions of employment in order to encourage or discourage
membership in any labor organization. Nothing in this Code or in
any other law shall stop the parties from requiring membership in a
recognized collective bargaining agent as a condition for
employment, except those employees who are already members of
another union at the time of the signing of the collective bargaining
agreement. Employees of an appropriate bargaining unit who are
not members of the recognized collective bargaining agent may be
assessed a reasonable fee equivalent to the dues and other fees paid
by members of the recognized collective bargaining agent, if such
non-union members accept the benefits under the collective
bargaining agreement: Provided, that the individual authorization
required under Article 242, paragraph (o) of this Code shall not
apply to the non-members of the recognized collective bargaining
 agent;
n.To dismiss, discharge or otherwise prejudice or discriminate against an
employee for having given or being about to give testimony under
this Code;
o.To violate the duty to bargain collectively as prescribed by this Code;
p.To pay negotiation or attorneys fees to the union or its officers or
agents as part of the settlement of any issue in collective bargaining
or any other dispute; or
q.To violate a collective bargaining agreement.
The provisions of the preceding paragraph notwithstanding, only the
officers and agents of corporations, associations or partnerships who have
actually participated in, authorized or ratified unfair labor practices shall
be held criminally liable. (As amended by Batas Pambansa Bilang 130,
August 21, 1981)

Chapter IIIUNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES OF LABOR

ORGANIZATIONS

Art. 249. Unfair labor practices of labor organizations. It shall be

unfair labor practice for a labor organization, its officers, agents or
representatives:

m. To restrain or coerce employees in the exercise of their right to

self-organization. However, a labor organization shall have the
right to prescribe its own rules with respect to the acquisition or
retention of membership;
n.To cause or attempt to cause an employer to discriminate against an
employee, including discrimination against an employee with
respect to whom membership in such organization has been denied
or to terminate an employee on any ground other than the usual
terms and conditions under which membership or continuation of
membership is made available to other members;
o.To violate the duty, or refuse to bargain collectively with the employer,
provided it is the representative of the employees;
p.To cause or attempt to cause an employer to pay or deliver or agree to
pay or deliver any money or other things of value, in the nature of
an exaction, for services which are not performed or not to be
performed, including the demand for fee for union negotiations;
q.To ask for or accept negotiation or attorneys fees from employers as
part of the settlement of any issue in collective bargaining or any
other dispute; or
r. To violate a collective bargaining agreement.
The provisions of the preceding paragraph notwithstanding, only the
officers, members of governing boards, representatives or agents or
members of labor associations or organizations who have actually
participated in, authorized or ratified unfair labor practices shall be held
criminally liable. (As amended by Batas Pambansa Bilang 130, August
21, 1981)

Title VIICOLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND ADMINISTRATION OF

AGREEMENTS

Art. 250. Procedure in collective bargaining. The following procedures

shall be observed in collective bargaining:

k.When a party desires to negotiate an agreement, it shall serve a written

notice upon the other party with a statement of its proposals. The
other party shall make a reply thereto not later than ten (10)
calendar days from receipt of such notice;
l. Should differences arise on the basis of such notice and reply, either
party may request for a conference which shall begin not later than
ten (10) calendar days from the date of request.
m. If the dispute is not settled, the Board shall intervene upon request
of either or both parties or at its own initiative and immediately call
the parties to conciliation meetings. The Board shall have the
power to issue subpoenas requiring the attendance of the parties to
such meetings. It shall be the duty of the parties to participate fully
and promptly in the conciliation meetings the Board may call;
n.During the conciliation proceedings in the Board, the parties are
prohibited from doing any act which may disrupt or impede the
early settlement of the disputes; and
o.The Board shall exert all efforts to settle disputes amicably and
encourage the parties to submit their case to a voluntary arbitrator.
(As amended by Section 20, Republic Act No. 6715, March 21,
1989)
Art. 251. Duty to bargain collectively in the absence of collective
bargaining agreements. In the absence of an agreement or other
voluntary arrangement providing for a more expeditious manner of
collective bargaining, it shall be the duty of employer and the
representatives of the employees to bargain collectively in accordance
with the provisions of this Code.

Art. 252. Meaning of duty to bargain collectively. The duty to bargain

collectively means the performance of a mutual obligation to meet and
convene promptly and expeditiously in good faith for the purpose of
negotiating an agreement with respect to wages, hours of work and all
other terms and conditions of employment including proposals for
adjusting any grievances or questions arising under such agreement and
executing a contract incorporating such agreements if requested by either
party but such duty does not compel any party to agree to a proposal or to
make any concession.

Art. 253. Duty to bargain collectively when there exists a collective

bargaining agreement. When there is a collective bargaining agreement,
the duty to bargain collectively shall also mean that neither party shall
terminate nor modify such agreement during its lifetime. However, either
party can serve a written notice to terminate or modify the agreement at
least sixty (60) days prior to its expiration date. It shall be the duty of
both parties to keep the status quo and to continue in full force and effect
the terms and conditions of the existing agreement during the 60-day
period and/or until a new agreement is reached by the parties.

Art. 253-A. Terms of a collective bargaining agreement. Any

Collective Bargaining Agreement that the parties may enter into shall,
insofar as the representation aspect is concerned, be for a term of five (5)
years. No petition questioning the majority status of the incumbent
bargaining agent shall be entertained and no certification election shall be
conducted by the Department of Labor and Employment outside of the
sixty-day period immediately before the date of expiry of such five-year
term of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. All other provisions of the
Collective Bargaining Agreement shall be renegotiated not later than
three (3) years after its execution. Any agreement on such other
provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement entered into within six
(6) months from the date of expiry of the term of such other provisions as
fixed in such Collective Bargaining Agreement, shall retroact to the day
immediately following such date. If any such agreement is entered into
beyond six months, the parties shall agree on the duration of retroactivity
thereof. In case of a deadlock in the renegotiation of the Collective
Bargaining Agreement, the parties may exercise their rights under this
Code. (As amended by Section 21, Republic Act No. 6715, March 21,
1989)

Art. 254. Injunction prohibited. No temporary or permanent injunction

or restraining order in any case involving or growing out of labor disputes
shall be issued by any court or other entity, except as otherwise provided
in Articles 218 and 264 of this Code. (As amended by Batas Pambansa
Bilang 227, June 1, 1982)

Art. 255. Exclusive bargaining representation and workers

participation in policy and decision-making. The labor organization
designated or selected by the majority of the employees in an appropriate
collective bargaining unit shall be the exclusive representative of the
employees in such unit for the purpose of collective bargaining. However,
an individual employee or group of employees shall have the right at any
time to present grievances to their employer.

Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, workers shall have

the right, subject to such rules and regulations as the Secretary of Labor
and Employment may promulgate, to participate in policy and decision-
making processes of the establishment where they are employed insofar
as said processes will directly affect their rights, benefits and welfare. For
this purpose, workers and employers may form labor-management
councils: Provided, That the representatives of the workers in such labor-
management councils shall be elected by at least the majority of all
employees in said establishment. (As amended by Section 22, Republic
Act No. 6715, March 21, 1989)

Art. 256. Representation issue in organized establishments. In

organized establishments, when a verified petition questioning the
majority status of the incumbent bargaining agent is filed before the
Department of Labor and Employment within the sixty-day period before
the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement, the Med-Arbiter
shall automatically order an election by secret ballot when the verified
petition is supported by the written consent of at least twenty-five percent
(25%) of all the employees in the bargaining unit to ascertain the will of
the employees in the appropriate bargaining unit. To have a valid election,
at least a majority of all eligible voters in the unit must have cast their
votes. The labor union receiving the majority of the valid votes cast shall
be certified as the exclusive bargaining agent of all the workers in the
unit. When an election which provides for three or more choices results in
no choice receiving a majority of the valid votes cast, a run-off election
shall be conducted between the labor unions receiving the two highest
number of votes: Provided, that the total number of votes for all
contending unions is at least fifty percent (50%) of the number of votes
cast.

At the expiration of the freedom period, the employer shall continue to

recognize the majority status of the incumbent bargaining agent where no
petition for certification election is filed. (As amended by Section 23,
Republic Act No. 6715, March 21, 1989)

Art. 257. Petitions in unorganized establishments. In any

establishment where there is no certified bargaining agent, a certification
election shall automatically be conducted by the Med-Arbiter upon the
filing of a petition by a legitimate labor organization. (As amended by
Section 24, Republic Act No. 6715, March 21, 1989)

Art. 258. When an employer may file petition. When requested to

bargain collectively, an employer may petition the Bureau for an election.
If there is no existing certified collective bargaining agreement in the
unit, the Bureau shall, after hearing, order a certification election.

All certification cases shall be decided within twenty (20) working days.

The Bureau shall conduct a certification election within twenty (20) days
in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Secretary
of Labor.

Art. 259. Appeal from certification election orders. Any party to an

election may appeal the order or results of the election as determined by
the Med-Arbiter directly to the Secretary of Labor and Employment on
the ground that the rules and regulations or parts thereof established by
the Secretary of Labor and Employment for the conduct of the election
have been violated. Such appeal shall be decided within fifteen (15)
calendar days. (As amended by Section 25, Republic Act No. 6715,
March 21, 1989)

Title VII-AGRIEVANCE MACHINERY AND VOLUNTARY

ARBITRATION

Art. 260. Grievance machinery and voluntary arbitration. The parties

to a Collective Bargaining Agreement shall include therein provisions
that will ensure the mutual observance of its terms and conditions. They
shall establish a machinery for the adjustment and resolution of
grievances arising from the interpretation or implementation of their
Collective Bargaining Agreement and those arising from the
interpretation or enforcement of company personnel policies.

All grievances submitted to the grievance machinery which are not settled
within seven (7) calendar days from the date of its submission shall
automatically be referred to voluntary arbitration prescribed in the
Collective Bargaining Agreement.

For this purpose, parties to a Collective Bargaining Agreement shall name

and designate in advance a Voluntary Arbitrator or panel of Voluntary
Arbitrators, or include in the agreement a procedure for the selection of
such Voluntary Arbitrator or panel of Voluntary Arbitrators, preferably
from the listing of qualified Voluntary Arbitrators duly accredited by the
Board. In case the parties fail to select a Voluntary Arbitrator or panel of
Voluntary Arbitrators, the Board shall designate the Voluntary Arbitrator
or panel of Voluntary Arbitrators, as may be necessary, pursuant to the
selection procedure agreed upon in the Collective Bargaining Agreement,
which shall act with the same force and effect as if the Arbitrator or panel
of Arbitrators has been selected by the parties as described above.

Art. 261. Jurisdiction of Voluntary Arbitrators or panel of Voluntary

Arbitrators. The Voluntary Arbitrator or panel of Voluntary Arbitrators
shall have original and exclusive jurisdiction to hear and decide all
unresolved grievances arising from the interpretation or implementation
of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and those arising from the
interpretation or enforcement of company personnel policies referred to
in the immediately preceding article. Accordingly, violations of a
Collective Bargaining Agreement, except those which are gross in
character, shall no longer be treated as unfair labor practice and shall be
resolved as grievances under the Collective Bargaining Agreement. For
purposes of this article, gross violations of Collective Bargaining
Agreement shall mean flagrant and/or malicious refusal to comply with
the economic provisions of such agreement.

The Commission, its Regional Offices and the Regional Directors of the
Department of Labor and Employment shall not entertain disputes,
grievances or matters under the exclusive and original jurisdiction of the
Voluntary Arbitrator or panel of Voluntary Arbitrators and shall
immediately dispose and refer the same to the Grievance Machinery or
Voluntary Arbitration provided in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Art. 262. Jurisdiction over other labor disputes. The Voluntary

Arbitrator or panel of Voluntary Arbitrators, upon agreement of the
parties, shall also hear and decide all other labor disputes including unfair
labor practices and bargaining deadlocks.

Art. 262-A. Procedures. The Voluntary Arbitrator or panel of Voluntary

Arbitrators shall have the power to hold hearings, receive evidences and
take whatever action is necessary to resolve the issue or issues subject of
the dispute, including efforts to effect a voluntary settlement between
parties.

All parties to the dispute shall be entitled to attend the arbitration

proceedings. The attendance of any third party or the exclusion of any
witness from the proceedings shall be determined by the Voluntary
Arbitrator or panel of Voluntary Arbitrators. Hearing may be adjourned
for cause or upon agreement by the parties.

Unless the parties agree otherwise, it shall be mandatory for the Voluntary
Arbitrator or panel of Voluntary Arbitrators to render an award or
decision within twenty (20) calendar days from the date of submission of
the dispute to voluntary arbitration.

The award or decision of the Voluntary Arbitrator or panel of Voluntary

Arbitrators shall contain the facts and the law on which it is based. It shall
be final and executory after ten (10) calendar days from receipt of the
copy of the award or decision by the parties.

Upon motion of any interested party, the Voluntary Arbitrator or panel of

Voluntary Arbitrators or the Labor Arbiter in the region where the movant
resides, in case of the absence or incapacity of the Voluntary Arbitrator or
panel of Voluntary Arbitrators, for any reason, may issue a writ of
execution requiring either the sheriff of the Commission or regular courts
or any public official whom the parties may designate in the submission
agreement to execute the final decision, order or award.

Art. 262-B. Cost of voluntary arbitration and Voluntary Arbitrators

fee. The parties to a Collective Bargaining Agreement shall provide
therein a proportionate sharing scheme on the cost of voluntary
arbitration including the Voluntary Arbitrators fee. The fixing of fee of
Voluntary Arbitrators, whether shouldered wholly by the parties or
subsidized by the Special Voluntary Arbitration Fund, shall take into
account the following factors:

g.Nature of the case;

h.Time consumed in hearing the case;
i. Professional standing of the Voluntary Arbitrator;
j. Capacity to pay of the parties; and
k.Fees provided for in the Revised Rules of Court.
Title VIIISTRIKES AND LOCKOUTS AND FOREIGN
INVOLVEMENT IN TRADE UNION ACTIVITIES

Chapter ISTRIKES AND LOCKOUTS

Art. 263. Strikes, picketing and lockouts.

h.It is the policy of the State to encourage free trade unionism and free
collective bargaining.
i. Workers shall have the right to engage in concerted activities for
 purposes of collective bargaining or for their mutual benefit and
protection. The right of legitimate labor organizations to strike and
picket and of employers to lockout, consistent with the national
interest, shall continue to be recognized and respected. However,
no labor union may strike and no employer may declare a lockout
on grounds involving inter-union and intra-union disputes.
j. In case of bargaining deadlocks, the duly certified or recognized
bargaining agent may file a notice of strike or the employer may
file a notice of lockout with the Ministry at least 30 day before the
intended date thereof. In cases of unfair labor practice, the period
of notice shall be 15 days and in the absence of a duly certified or
recognized bargaining agent, the notice of strike may be filed by
any legitimate labor organization in behalf of its members.
However, in case of dismissal from employment of union officers
duly elected in accordance with the union constitution and by-laws,
which may constitute union busting, where the existence of the
union is threatened, the 15-day cooling-off period shall not apply
and the union may take action immediately. (As amended by
Executive Order No. 111, December 24, 1986)
k.The notice must be in accordance with such implementing rules and
regulations as the Minister of Labor and Employment may
promulgate.
l. During the cooling-off period, it shall be the duty of the Ministry to
exert all efforts at mediation and conciliation to effect a voluntary
settlement. Should the dispute remain unsettled until the lapse of
the requisite number of days from the mandatory filing of the
notice, the labor union may strike or the employer may declare a
lockout.
m. A decision to declare a strike must be approved by a majority of the
total union membership in the bargaining unit concerned, obtained
by secret ballot in meetings or referenda called for that purpose. A
decision to declare a lockout must be approved by a majority of the
board of directors of the corporation or association or of the
partners in a partnership, obtained by secret ballot in a meeting
called for that purpose. The decision shall be valid for the duration
of the dispute based on substantially the same grounds considered
when the strike or lockout vote was taken. The Ministry may, at its
own initiative or upon the request of any affected party, supervise
the conduct of the secret balloting. In every case, the union or the
employer shall furnish the Ministry the results of the voting at least
seven days before the intended strike or lockout, subject to the
cooling-off period herein provided. (As amended by Batas
Pambansa Bilang 130, August 21, 1981 and further amended by
 Executive Order No. 111, December 24, 1986)
n.When, in his opinion, there exists a labor dispute causing or likely to
cause a strike or lockout in an industry 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. The Secretary of Labor and Employment or the
Commission may seek the assistance of law enforcement agencies
to ensure compliance with this provision as well as with such
orders as he may issue to enforce the same. In line with the
national concern for and the highest respect accorded to the right of
patients to life and health, strikes and lockouts in hospitals, clinics
and similar medical institutions shall, to every extent possible, be
avoided, and all serious efforts, not only by labor and management
but government as well, be exhausted to substantially minimize, if
not prevent, their adverse effects on such life and health, through
the exercise, however legitimate, by labor of its right to strike and
by management to lockout. In labor disputes adversely affecting
the continued operation of such hospitals, clinics or medical
institutions, it shall be the duty of the striking union or locking-out
employer to provide and maintain an effective skeletal workforce
of medical and other health personnel, whose movement and
services shall be unhampered and unrestricted, as are necessary to
insure the proper and adequate protection of the life and health of
its patients, most especially emergency cases, for the duration of
the strike or lockout. In such cases, therefore, the Secretary of
Labor and Employment may immediately assume, within twenty
four (24) hours from knowledge of the occurrence of such a strike
or lockout, jurisdiction over the same or certify it to the
Commission for compulsory arbitration. For this purpose, the
contending parties are strictly enjoined to comply with such orders,
prohibitions and/or injunctions as are issued by the Secretary of
Labor and Employment or the Commission, under pain of
immediate disciplinary action, including dismissal or loss of
employment status or payment by the locking-out employer of
backwages, damages and other affirmative relief, even criminal
 prosecution against either or both of them. The foregoing
notwithstanding, the President of the Philippines shall not be
precluded from determining the industries that, in his opinion, are
indispensable to the national interest, and from intervening at any
time and assuming jurisdiction over any such labor dispute in order
to settle or terminate the same.
o.Before or at any stage of the compulsory arbitration process, the parties
may opt to submit their dispute to voluntary arbitration.
p.The Secretary of Labor and Employment, the Commission or the
voluntary arbitrator shall decide or resolve the dispute, as the case
may be. The decision of the President, the Secretary of Labor and
Employment, the Commission or the voluntary arbitrator shall be
final and executory ten (10) calendar days after receipt thereof by
the parties. (As amended by Section 27, Republic Act No. 6715,
March 21, 1989)
Art. 264. Prohibited activities.

e.No labor organization or employer shall declare a strike or lockout

without first having bargained collectively in accordance with Title
VII of this Book or without first having filed the notice required in
the preceding Article or without the necessary strike or lockout
vote first having been obtained and reported to the Ministry. No
strike or lockout shall be declared after assumption of jurisdiction
by the President or the Minister or after certification or submission
of the dispute to compulsory or voluntary arbitration or during the
pendency of cases involving the same grounds for the strike or
lockout. Any worker whose employment has been terminated as a
consequence of any unlawful lockout shall be entitled to
reinstatement with full backwages. Any union officer who
knowingly participates in an illegal strike and any worker or union
officer who knowingly participates in the commission of illegal
acts during a strike may be declared to have lost his employment
status: Provided, That mere participation of a worker in a lawful
strike shall not constitute sufficient ground for termination of his
employment, even if a replacement had been hired by the employer
during such lawful strike.
f. No person shall obstruct, impede, or interfere with, by force, violence,
coercion, threats or intimidation, any peaceful picketing by
employees during any labor controversy or in the exercise of the
right to self-organization or collective bargaining, or shall aid or
abet such obstruction or interference.
g.No employer shall use or employ any strike-breaker, nor shall any
person be employed as a strike-breaker.
h.No public official or employee, including officers and personnel of the
New Armed Forces of the Philippines or the Integrated National
Police, or armed person, shall bring in, introduce or escort in any
manner, any individual who seeks to replace strikers in entering or
leaving the premises of a strike area, or work in place of the
strikers. The police force shall keep out of the picket lines unless
actual violence or other criminal acts occur therein: Provided, That
nothing herein shall be interpreted to prevent any public officer
from taking any measure necessary to maintain peace and order,
protect life and property, and/or enforce the law and legal order.
(As amended by Executive Order No. 111, December 24, 1986)
i. No person engaged in picketing shall commit any act of violence,
coercion or intimidation or obstruct the free ingress to or egress
from the employers premises for lawful purposes, or obstruct
public thoroughfares. (As amended by Batas Pambansa Bilang 227,
June 1, 1982)
Art. 265. Improved offer balloting. In an effort to settle a strike, the
Department of Labor and Employment shall conduct a referendum by
secret ballot on the improved offer of the employer on or before the 30th
day of the strike. When at least a majority of the union members vote to
accept the improved offer the striking workers shall immediately return to
work and the employer shall thereupon readmit them upon the signing of
the agreement.

In case of a lockout, the Department of Labor and Employment shall also

conduct a referendum by secret balloting on the reduced offer of the
union on or before the 30th day of the lockout. When at least a majority
of the board of directors or trustees or the partners holding the controlling
interest in the case of a partnership vote to accept the reduced offer, the
workers shall immediately return to work and the employer shall
thereupon readmit them upon the signing of the agreement. (Incorporated
by Section 28, Republic Act No. 6715, March 21, 1989)

Art. 266. Requirement for arrest and detention. Except on grounds of

national security and public peace or in case of commission of a crime, no
union members or union organizers may be arrested or detained for union
activities without previous consultations with the Secretary of Labor.

Chapter IIASSISTANCE TO LABOR ORGANIZATIONS

Art. 267. Assistance by the Department of Labor. The Department of

Labor, at the initiative of the Secretary of Labor, shall extend special
assistance to the organization, for purposes of collective bargaining, of
the most underprivileged workers who, for reasons of occupation,
organizational structure or insufficient incomes, are not normally covered
by major labor organizations or federations.

Art. 268. Assistance by the Institute of Labor and Manpower Studies.

The Institute of Labor and Manpower Studies shall render technical and
other forms of assistance to labor organizations and employer
organizations in the field of labor education, especially pertaining to
collective bargaining, arbitration, labor standards and the Labor Code of
the Philippines in general.

Chapter IIIFOREIGN ACTIVITIES

Art. 269. Prohibition against aliens; exceptions. All aliens, natural or

juridical, as well as foreign organizations are strictly prohibited from
engaging directly or indirectly in all forms of trade union activities
without prejudice to normal contacts between Philippine labor unions and
recognized international labor centers: Provided, however, That aliens
working in the country with valid permits issued by the Department of
Labor and Employment, may exercise the right to self-organization and
join or assist labor organizations of their own choosing for purposes of
collective bargaining: Provided, further, That said aliens are nationals of a
country which grants the same or similar rights to Filipino workers. (As
amended by Section 29, Republic Act No. 6715, March 21, 1989)

Art. 270. Regulation of foreign assistance.

d.No foreign individual, organization or entity may give any donations,

grants or other forms of assistance, in cash or in kind, directly or
indirectly, to any labor organization, group of workers or any
auxiliary thereof, such as cooperatives, credit unions and
institutions engaged in research, education or communication, in
relation to trade union activities, without prior permission by the
Secretary of Labor. "Trade union activities" shall mean:
0 organization, formation and administration of labor organization;
1 negotiation and administration of collective bargaining
agreements;
2 all forms of concerted union action;
3 organizing, managing, or assisting union conventions, meetings,
rallies, referenda, teach-ins, seminars, conferences and
institutes;
4 any form of participation or involvement in representation
proceedings, representation elections, consent elections,
 union elections; and
5 other activities or actions analogous to the foregoing.
e.This prohibition shall equally apply to foreign donations, grants or
other forms of assistance, in cash or in kind, given directly or
indirectly to any employer or employers organization to support
any activity or activities affecting trade unions.
f. The Secretary of Labor shall promulgate rules and regulations to
regulate and control the giving and receiving of such donations,
grants, or other forms of assistance, including the mandatory
reporting of the amounts of the donations or grants, the specific
recipients thereof, the projects or activities proposed to be
supported, and their duration.
Art. 271. Applicability to farm tenants and rural workers. The
provisions of this Title pertaining to foreign organizations and activities
shall be deemed applicable likewise to all organizations of farm tenants,
rural workers, and the like: Provided, That in appropriate cases, the
Secretary of Agrarian Reform shall exercise the powers and
responsibilities vested by this Title in the Secretary of Labor.

Chapter IVPENALTIES FOR VIOLATION

Art. 272. Penalties.

c.Any person violating any of the provisions of Article 264 of this Code
shall be punished by a fine of not less than one thousand pesos
(P1,000.00) nor more than ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) and/or
imprisonment for not less than three months nor more than three
(3) years, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of
the court. Prosecution under this provision shall preclude
prosecution for the same act under the Revised Penal Code, and
vice versa.
d.Upon the recommendation of the Minister of Labor and Employment
and the Minister of National Defense, foreigners who violate the
provisions of this Title shall be subject to immediate and summary
deportation by the Commission on Immigration and Deportation
and shall be permanently barred from re-entering the country
without the special permission of the President of the Philippines.
(As amended by Section 16, Batas Pambansa Bilang 130 and
Section 7, Batas Pambansa Bilang 227)
Title IXSPECIAL PROVISIONS

Art. 273. Study of labor-management relations. The Secretary of Labor

shall have the power and it shall be his duty to inquire into:
c.the existing relations between employers and employees in the
Philippines;
d.the growth of associations of employees and the effect of such
associations upon employer-employee relations;
e.the extent and results of the methods of collective bargaining in the
determination of terms and conditions of employment;
f. the methods which have been tried by employers and associations of
employees for maintaining mutually satisfactory relations;
g.desirable industrial practices which have been developed through
collective bargaining and other voluntary arrangements;
h.the possible ways of increasing the usefulness and efficiency of
collective bargaining for settling differences;
i. the possibilities for the adoption of practical and effective methods of
labor-management cooperation;
j. any other aspects of employer-employee relations concerning the
promotion of harmony and understanding between the parties; and
k.the relevance of labor laws and labor relations to national development.
The Secretary of Labor shall also inquire into the causes of
industrial unrest and take all the necessary steps within his power
as may be prescribed by law to alleviate the same, and shall from
time to time recommend the enactment of such remedial legislation
as in his judgment may be desirable for the maintenance and
promotion of industrial peace.
Art. 274. Visitorial power. The Secretary of Labor and Employment or
his duly authorized representative is hereby empowered to inquire into
the financial activities of legitimate labor organizations upon the filing of
a complaint under oath and duly supported by the written consent of at
least twenty percent (20%) of the total membership of the labor
organization concerned and to examine their books of accounts and other
records to determine compliance or non-compliance with the law and to
prosecute any violations of the law and the union constitution and by-
laws: Provided, That such inquiry or examination shall not be conducted
during the sixty (60)-day freedom period nor within the thirty (30) days
immediately preceding the date of election of union officials. (As
amended by Section 31, Republic Act No. 6715, March 21, 1989)

Art. 275. Tripartism and tripartite conferences.

b.Tripartism in labor relations is hereby declared a State policy. Towards

this end, workers and employers shall, as far as practicable, be
represented in decision and policy-making bodies of the
government.
c.The Secretary of Labor and Employment or his duly authorized
 representatives may, from time to time, call a national, regional, or
industrial tripartite conference of representatives of government,
workers and employers for the consideration and adoption of
voluntary codes of principles designed to promote industrial peace
based on social justice or to align labor movement relations with
established priorities in economic and social development. In
calling such conference, the Secretary of Labor and Employment
may consult with accredited representatives of workers and
employers. (As amended by Section 32, Republic Act No. 6715,
March 21, 1989)
Art. 276. Government employees. The terms and conditions of
employment of all government employees, including employees of
government-owned and controlled corporations, shall be governed by the
Civil Service Law, rules and regulations. Their salaries shall be
standardized by the National Assembly as provided for in the New
Constitution. However, there shall be no reduction of existing wages,
benefits and other terms and conditions of employment being enjoyed by
them at the time of the adoption of this Code.

Art. 277. Miscellaneous provisions.

d.All unions are authorized to collect reasonable membership fees, union

dues, assessments and fines and other contributions for labor
education and research, mutual death and hospitalization benefits,
welfare fund, strike fund and credit and cooperative undertakings.
(As amended by Section 33, Republic Act No. 6715, March 21,
1989)
e.Subject to the constitutional right of workers to security of tenure and
their right to be protected against dismissal except for a just and
authorized cause and without prejudice to the requirement of notice
under Article 283 of this Code, the employer shall furnish the
worker whose employment is sought to be terminated a written
notice containing a statement of the causes for termination and
shall afford the latter ample opportunity to be heard and to defend
himself with the assistance of his representative if he so desires in
accordance with company rules and regulations promulgated
pursuant to guidelines set by the Department of Labor and
Employment. Any decision taken by the employer shall be without
prejudice to the right of the worker to contest the validity or
legality of his dismissal by filing a complaint with the regional
branch of the National Labor Relations Commission. The burden of
proving that the termination was for a valid or authorized cause
shall rest on the employer. The Secretary of the Department of
 Labor and Employment may suspend the effects of the termination
pending resolution of the dispute in the event of a prima facie
finding by the appropriate official of the Department of Labor and
Employment before whom such dispute is pending that the
termination may cause a serious labor dispute or is in
implementation of a mass lay-off. (As amended by Section 33,
Republic Act No. 6715, March 21, 1989)
f. Any employee, whether employed for a definite period or not, shall,
beginning on his first day of service, be considered as an employee
for purposes of membership in any labor union. (As amended by
Section 33, Republic Act No. 6715)
g.No docket fee shall be assessed in labor standards disputes. In all other
disputes, docket fees may be assessed against the filing party,
provided that in bargaining deadlock, such fees shall be shared
equally by the negotiating parties.
h.The Minister of Labor and Employment and the Minister of the Budget
shall cause to be created or reclassified in accordance with law
such positions as may be necessary to carry out the objectives of
this Code and cause the upgrading of the salaries of the personnel
involved in the Labor Relations System of the Ministry. Funds
needed for this purpose shall be provided out of the Special
Activities Fund appropriated by Batas Pambansa Blg. 80 and from
annual appropriations thereafter. (Incorporated by Batas Pambansa
Bilang 130, August 21, 1981)
i. A special Voluntary Arbitration Fund is hereby established in the Board
to subsidize the cost of voluntary arbitration in cases involving the
interpretation and implementation of the Collective Bargaining
Agreement, including the Arbitrators fees, and for such other
related purposes to promote and develop voluntary arbitration. The
Board shall administer the Special Voluntary Arbitration Fund in
accordance with the guidelines it may adopt upon the
recommendation of the Council, which guidelines shall be subject
to the approval of the Secretary of Labor and Employment.
Continuing funds needed for this purpose in the initial yearly
amount of fifteen million pesos (P15,000,000.00) shall be provided
in the 1989 annual general appropriations acts. The amount of
subsidy in appropriate cases shall be determined by the Board in
accordance with established guidelines issued by it upon the
recommendation of the Council. The Fund shall also be utilized for
the operation of the Council, the training and education of
Voluntary Arbitrators, and the Voluntary Arbitration Program. (As
amended by Section 33, Republic Act No. 6715, March 21, 1989)
j. The Ministry shall help promote and gradually develop, with the
 agreement of labor organizations and employers, labor-
management cooperation programs at appropriate levels of the
enterprise based on the shared responsibility and mutual respect in
order to ensure industrial peace and improvement in productivity,
working conditions and the quality of working life. (Incorporated
by Batas Pambansa Bilang 130, August 21, 1981)
k.In establishments where no legitimate labor organization exists, labor-
management committees may be formed voluntarily by workers
and employers for the purpose of promoting industrial peace. The
Department of Labor and Employment shall endeavor to enlighten
and educate the workers and employers on their rights and
responsibilities through labor education with emphasis on the
policy thrusts of this Code. (As amended by Section 33, Republic
Act No. 6715, March 21, 1989)
To ensure speedy labor justice, the periods provided in this Code within
which decisions or resolutions of labor relations cases or matters should
be rendered shall be mandatory. For this purpose, a case or matter shall be
deemed submitted for decision or resolution upon the filing of the last
pleading or memorandum required by the rules of the Commission or by
the Commission itself, or the Labor Arbiter, or the Director of the Bureau
of Labor Relations or Med-Arbiter, or the Regional Director. Upon
expiration of the corresponding period, a certification stating why a
decision or resolution has not been rendered within the said period shall
be issued forthwith by the Chairman of the Commission, the Executive
Labor Arbiter, or the Director of the Bureau of Labor Relations or Med-
Arbiter, or the Regional Director, as the case may be, and a copy thereof
served upon the parties. Despite the expiration of the applicable
mandatory period, the aforesaid officials shall, without prejudice to any
liability which may have been incurred as a consequence thereof, see to it
that the case or matter shall be decided or resolved without any further
delay. (Incorporated by Section 33, Republic Act No. 6715, March 21,
1989)
BOOK SIX
POST EMPLOYMENTTitle ITERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

Art. 278. Coverage. The provisions of this Title shall apply to all
establishments or undertakings, whether for profit or not.

Art. 279. Security of tenure. In cases of regular employment, the

employer shall not terminate the services of an employee except for a just
cause or when authorized by this Title. An employee who is unjustly
dismissed from work shall be entitled to reinstatement without loss of
seniority rights and other privileges and to his full backwages, inclusive
of allowances, and to his other benefits or their monetary equivalent
computed from the time his compensation was withheld from him up to
the time of his actual reinstatement. (As amended by Section 34,
Republic Act No. 6715, March 21, 1989)

Art. 280. Regular and casual employment. The provisions of written

agreement to the contrary notwithstanding and regardless of the oral
agreement of the parties, an employment shall be deemed to be regular
where the employee has been engaged to perform activities which are
usually necessary or desirable in the usual business or trade of the
employer, except where the employment has been fixed for a specific
project or undertaking the completion or termination of which has been
determined at the time of the engagement of the employee or where the
work or service to be performed is seasonal in nature and the employment
is for the duration of the season.

An employment shall be deemed to be casual if it is not covered by the

preceding paragraph: Provided, That any employee who has rendered at
least one year of service, whether such service is continuous or broken,
shall be considered a regular employee with respect to the activity in
which he is employed and his employment shall continue while such
activity exists.

Art. 281. Probationary employment. Probationary employment shall

not exceed six (6) months from the date the employee started working,
unless it is covered by an apprenticeship agreement stipulating a longer
period. The services of an employee who has been engaged on a
probationary basis may be terminated for a just cause or when he fails to
qualify as a regular employee in accordance with reasonable standards
made known by the employer to the employee at the time of his
engagement. An employee who is allowed to work after a probationary
period shall be considered a regular employee.

Art. 282. Termination by employer. An employer may terminate an

employment for any of the following causes:

k.Serious misconduct or willful disobedience by the employee of the

lawful orders of his employer or representative in connection with
his work;
l. Gross and habitual neglect by the employee of his duties;
m. Fraud or willful breach by the employee of the trust reposed in him
by his employer or duly authorized representative;
n.Commission of a crime or offense by the employee against the person
of his employer or any immediate member of his family or his duly
authorized representatives; and
o.Other causes analogous to the foregoing.
Art. 283. Closure of establishment and reduction of personnel. The
employer may also terminate the employment of any employee due to the
installation of labor-saving devices, redundancy, retrenchment to prevent
losses or the closing or cessation of operation of the establishment or
undertaking unless the closing is for the purpose of circumventing the
provisions of this Title, by serving a written notice on the workers and the
Ministry of Labor and Employment at least one (1) month before the
intended date thereof. In case of termination due to the installation of
labor-saving devices or redundancy, the worker affected thereby shall be
entitled to a separation pay equivalent to at least his one (1) month pay or
to at least one (1) month pay for every year of service, whichever is
higher. In case of retrenchment to prevent losses and in cases of closures
or cessation of operations of establishment or undertaking not due to
serious business losses or financial reverses, the separation pay shall be
equivalent to one (1) month pay or at least one-half (1/2) month pay for
every year of service, whichever is higher. A fraction of at least six (6)
months shall be considered one (1) whole year.

Art. 284. Disease as ground for termination. An employer may

terminate the services of an employee who has been found to be suffering
from any disease and whose continued employment is prohibited by law
or is prejudicial to his health as well as to the health of his co-employees:
Provided, That he is paid separation pay equivalent to at least one (1)
month salary or to one-half (1/2) month salary for every year of service,
whichever is greater, a fraction of at least six (6) months being considered
as one (1) whole year.

Art. 285. Termination by employee.

x.An employee may terminate without just cause the employee-employer

relationship by serving a written notice on the employer at least
one (1) month in advance. The employer upon whom no such
notice was served may hold the employee liable for damages.
y. An employee may put an end to the relationship without serving any
notice on the employer for any of the following just causes:
a. Serious insult by the employer or his representative on the
honor and person of the employee;
b. Inhuman and unbearable treatment accorded the employee
by the employer or his representative;
 c. Commission of a crime or offense by the employer or his
representative against the person of the employee or any of
the immediate members of his family; and
d. Other causes analogous to any of the foregoing.
Art. 286. When employment not deemed terminated. The bona-fide
suspension of the operation of a business or undertaking for a period not
exceeding six (6) months, or the fulfillment by the employee of a military
or civic duty shall not terminate employment. In all such cases, the
employer shall reinstate the employee to his former position without loss
of seniority rights if he indicates his desire to resume his work not later
than one (1) month from the resumption of operations of his employer or
from his relief from the military or civic duty.

Title IIRETIREMENT FROM THE SERVICE

Art. 287. Retirement. Any employee may be retired upon reaching the
retirement age established in the collective bargaining agreement or other
applicable employment contract.

In case of retirement, the employee shall be entitled to receive such

retirement benefits as he may have earned under existing laws and any
collective bargaining agreement and other agreements: Provided,
however, That an employees retirement benefits under any collective
bargaining and other agreements shall not be less than those provided
therein.

In the absence of a retirement plan or agreement providing for retirement

benefits of employees in the establishment, an employee upon reaching
the age of sixty (60) years or more, but not beyond sixty-five (65) years
which is hereby declared the compulsory retirement age, who has served
at least five (5) years in the said establishment, may retire and shall be
entitled to retirement pay equivalent to at least one-half (1/2) month
salary for every year of service, a fraction of at least six (6) months being
considered as one whole year.

Unless the parties provide for broader inclusions, the term one-half (1/2)
month salary shall mean fifteen (15) days plus one-twelfth (1/12) of the
13th month pay and the cash equivalent of not more than five (5) days of
service incentive leaves.

Retail, service and agricultural establishments or operations employing

not more than ten (10) employees or workers are exempted from the
coverage of this provision.
Violation of this provision is hereby declared unlawful and subject to the
penal provisions under Article 288 of this Code.
BOOK SEVEN
TRANSITORY AND FINAL PROVISIONS

Title I
PENAL PROVISIONS AND LIABILITIES
Art. 288. Penalties. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, or unless
the acts complained of hinge on a question of interpretation or
implementation of ambiguous provisions of an existing collective
bargaining agreement, any violation of the provisions of this Code
declared to be unlawful or penal in nature shall be punished with a fine of
not less than One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) nor more than Ten
Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than three
months nor more than three years, or both such fine and imprisonment at
the discretion of the court.

In addition to such penalty, any alien found guilty shall be summarily

deported upon completion of service of sentence.

Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, any criminal

offense punished in this Code, shall be under the concurrent jurisdiction
of the Municipal or City Courts and the Courts of First Instance. (As
amended by Section 3, Batas Pambansa Bilang 70)

Art. 289. Who are liable when committed by other than natural
person. If the offense is committed by a corporation, trust, firm,
partnership, association or any other entity, the penalty shall be imposed
upon the guilty officer or officers of such corporation, trust, firm,
partnership, association or entity.

Title IIPRESCRIPTION OF OFFENSES AND CLAIMS

Art. 290. Offenses. Offenses penalized under this Code and the rules and
regulations issued pursuant thereto shall prescribe in three (3) years.

All unfair labor practice arising from Book V shall be filed with the
appropriate agency within one (1) year from accrual of such unfair labor
practice; otherwise, they shall be forever barred.

Art. 291. Money claims. All money claims arising from employer-
employee relations accruing during the effectivity of this Code shall be
filed within three (3) years from the time the cause of action accrued;
otherwise they shall be forever barred.

All money claims accruing prior to the effectivity of this Code shall be
filed with the appropriate entities established under this Code within one
(1) year from the date of effectivity, and shall be processed or determined
in accordance with the implementing rules and regulations of the Code;
otherwise, they shall be forever barred.

Workmens compensation claims accruing prior to the effectivity of this

Code and during the period from November 1, 1974 up to December 31,
1974, shall be filed with the appropriate regional offices of the
Department of Labor not later than March 31, 1975; otherwise, they shall
forever be barred. The claims shall be processed and adjudicated in
accordance with the law and rules at the time their causes of action
accrued.

Art. 292. Institution of money claims. Money claims specified in the

immediately preceding Article shall be filed before the appropriate entity
independently of the criminal action that may be instituted in the proper
courts.

Pending the final determination of the merits of money claims filed with
the appropriate entity, no civil action arising from the same cause of
action shall be filed with any court. This provision shall not apply to
employees compensation case which shall be processed and determined
strictly in accordance with the pertinent provisions of this Code.

Title IIITRANSITORY AND FINAL PROVISIONS

Art. 293. Application of law enacted prior to this Code. All actions or
claims accruing prior to the effectivity of this Code shall be determined in
accordance with the laws in force at the time of their accrual.

Art. 294. Secretary of Labor to initiate integration of maternity leave

benefits. Within six (6) months after this Code takes effect, the Secretary
of Labor shall initiate such measures as may be necessary for the
integration of maternity leave benefits into the Social Security System, in
the case of private employment, and the Government Service Insurance
System, in the case of public employment.

Art. 295. Funding of the Overseas Employment Development Board

and the National Seamens Board referred to in Articles 17 and 20,
respectively, of this Code shall initially be funded out of the
unprogrammed fund of the Department of Labor and the National
Manpower and Youth Council.

Art. 296. Termination of the workmens compensation program. The

Bureau of Workmens Compensation, Workmens Compensation
Commission, and Workmens Compensation Units in the regional offices
of the Department of Labor shall continue to exercise the functions and
the respective jurisdictions over workmens compensation cases vested
upon them by Act No. 3428, as amended, otherwise known as the
Workmens Compensation Act until March 31, 1976. Likewise, the term
of office of incumbent members of the Workmens Compensation
Commission, including its Chairman and any commissioner deemed
retired as of December 31, 1975, as well as the present employees and
officials of the Bureau of Workmens Compensation, Workmens
Compensation Commission and the Workmens Compensation Units shall
continue up to that date. Thereafter, said offices shall be considered
abolished and all officials and personnel thereof shall be transferred to
and mandatorily absorbed by the Department of Labor, subject to
Presidential Decree No. 6, Letters of Instructions Nos. 14 and 14-A and
the Civil Service Law and rules.

Such amount as may be necessary to cover the operational expenses of

the Bureau of Workmens Compensation and the Workmens
Compensation Units, including the salaries of incumbent personnel for
the period up to March 31, 1976 shall be appropriated from the
unprogrammed funds of the Department of Labor.

Art. 297. Continuation of insurance policies and indemnity bonds. All

workmens compensation insurance policies and indemnity bonds for
self-insured employers existing upon the effectivity of this Code shall
remain in force and effect until the expiration dates of such policies or the
lapse of the period of such bonds, as the case may be, but in no case
beyond December 31, 1974. Claims may be filed against the insurance
carriers and/or self-insured employers for causes of action which accrued
during the existence of said policies or authority to self-insure.

Art. 298. Abolition of the Court of Industrial Relations and the

National Labor Relations Commission. The Court of Industrial
Relations and the National Labor Relations Commission established
under Presidential Decree No. 21 are hereby abolished. All unexpended
funds, properties, equipment and records of the Court of Industrial
Relations, and such of its personnel as may be necessary, are hereby
transferred to the Commission and to its regional branches. All
unexpended funds, properties and equipment of the National Labor
Relations Commission established under Presidential Decree No. 21 are
transferred to the Bureau of Labor Relations. Personnel not absorbed by
or transferred to the Commission shall enjoy benefits granted under
existing laws.

Art. 299. Disposition of pending cases. All cases pending before the
Court of Industrial Relations and the National Labor Relations
Commission established under Presidential Decree No. 21 on the date of
effectivity of this Code shall be transferred to and processed by the
corresponding labor relations divisions or the National Labor Relations
Commission created under this Code having cognizance of the same in
accordance with the procedure laid down herein and its implementing
rules and regulations. Cases on labor relations on appeal with the
Secretary of Labor or the Office of the President of the Philippines as of
the date of effectivity of this Code shall remain under their respective
jurisdictions and shall be decided in accordance with the rules and
regulations in force at the time of appeal.

All workmens compensation cases pending before the Workmens

Compensation Units in the regional offices of the Department of Labor
and those pending before the Workmens Compensation Commission as
of March 31, 1975, shall be processed and adjudicated in accordance with
the law, rules and procedure existing prior to the effectivity of the
Employees Compensation and State Insurance Fund.

Art. 300. Personnel whose services are terminated. Personnel of

agencies or any of their subordinate units whose services are terminated
as a result of the implementation of this Code shall enjoy the rights and
protection provided in Sections 5 and 6 of Republic Act numbered fifty-
four hundred and thirty five and such other pertinent laws, rules and
regulations. In any case, no lay-off shall be effected until funds to cover
the gratuity and/or retirement benefits of those laid off are duly certified
as available.

Art. 301. Separability provisions. If any provision or part of this Code,

or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid,
the remainder of this code, or the application of such provision or part to
other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby.

Art. 302. Repealing clause. All labor laws not adopted as part of this
Code either directly or by reference are hereby repealed. All provisions of
existing laws, orders, decrees, rules and regulations inconsistent herewith
are likewise repealed.
Done in the City of Manila, this 1st day of May in the year of our Lord,
nineteen hundred and seventy four.