Republic of the Phil.Ippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO.
8419
Introduced  by:  Hon.  Keith  Micah  "Atty.  Mike"  D.L.  Tan
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING    THE    NATIONAL    EMPLOYIVIENT    MASTER    PLAN,    TO    BE
KNOWN AS THE  "TRABAHO  PARA SA  BAYAN  PLAN`., AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article  11,  Section  18 of the  1987 Constitution provides that,  "The State affirms
labor  as  a  primary  social  and  economic force.  It  shall  protect the  rights  of workers
and  promote  their  welfare".  Further,  Article  Xlll,  Section  3  states  that,  "The  State
shall  afford  full  protection  to  labor,  local  and  overseas,  organized  and  unorganized,
and   promote  full   employment  and   equality  of  employment  opportunities  for  all".
Moreover,   the   Constitution   guarantees  that  they  shall   be  entitled   to  security  of
tenure,  humane conditions of work, and a living wage".
Pursuant to these provisions,  this bill  seeks to establish the Trabaho  Para sa
Bayan   plan   (TPB   plan),   which   shall   serve   as  the   employment  generation   and
recovery master plan of the government.
It  shall,   among   others,   stimulate   national  and   local  economic  growth   and
development;  promote the employability,  competitiveness, wellness,  and productivity
of workers; and provide support and incentives to businesses.
To   formulate   success   measures,   key   performance   indicators,   and   action
components,   including   the   provision   of  support  for  the   establishment,   business
continuity, and growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises, the Trabaho Para sa
Bayan  Inter-Agency Council shall be created.
The bill  also provides for the localization  of this Act through the formulation  of
plans,    programs,    or   projects   geared   towards   employment   recovery   and   job
generation within the respective jurisdictions of local government units.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
eith Micah "Arty. Mike"  D.L. Tan
4th  District,  Quezon


`
Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO.
8419
Introduced  by:  Hon.  Keith  Micah  ``Atty.  Mike"  D.L.  Tan
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING    THE    NATIONAL    EMPLOYMENT    MASTER    PLAN,    TO    BE
KNOWN AS THE  "TRABAHO  PARA SA  BAYAN  PLAN", AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted  by the  Senate and the  House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
SECTION  1.  Short  Tt.I/e.  -This Act shall  be  known  as the  "Trabaho  Para  sa
Bayan Act".
SEC.  2.  Dec/araf/.or}  of Po//.c/.es.  -  It  is  the  policy  of  the  State  to  afford  full
protection  to  labor,   local  and  overseas,  organized  and  unorganized,  promote  full,
productive   and   freely  chosen   employment  and   livelihood,   and   ensure  equitable
employment  opportunities  for  all,   irrespective  of  sex,   race,  color,  religion,  political
opinion,  ethnicity or social origin.
Accordingly,  the  State  shall,   in  pursuit  of  poverty  reduction  through  decent
jobs,  sustainable  enterprises,  and  economic transformation,  ensure an  environment
that   encourages   more   employment   and   entrepreneurship   opportunities,   provide
comprehensive  support  to  existing   and   emerging   businesses,   particularly  to  the
micro,   small   and   medium   enterprises   (MSMEs),   and   improve  the   employability,
productivity, and competitiveness of Filipino workers.
In  order  to  carry  out  the  policies  of  this  Act,  the  "Trabaho  Para  sa  Bayan
plan,"  as  provided  herein,  shall  serve  as  the  State's  master  plan  on  employment
generation and  recovery to realize short-term and long-term goals and visions for the
country.  It shall have the following objectives:
(a) To stimulate national and  local economic growth and development through
various means,  including,  but not limited to,  aligning  investment and  other incentives
provided   by   law   to   the   creation   of   more   decent   employment   and   other  work
opportunities  to  address  unemployment,   underemployment,  youth  unemployment,
rising  precarity  and  informality  of working  arrangements,  reintegration  of Overseas
Filipino Workers (OFWs), and other challenges in the labor market;
(b)  To  promote the  employability,  competitiveness,  wellness,  and  productivity
of workers  through  efficient,  effective,  and  timely  delivery  of  industry-relevant  skills
training  and  enhancement  programs,   reintegration  pathways,  active  labor  market


activities,   and   other  services  to  allow  workers  to  gain   access  to  and   maximize
opportunities in the labor market;
(c)  To   provide  support  and   incentives  to  businesses,  whether  existing   or
emerging,  particularly  MSMEs,  including  increased  access  to  financing  and  capital,
to  promote  self-reliance,  spur employment generation,  and  ensure the  security  and
protection of employment; and
(d)  To  incentivize  employers,  industry  stakeholders,  and  other  private  sector
organizations that offer training,  technology,  knowledge and  skills transfer,  upskilling
and  reskilling,  enterprise-based training,  such  as apprenticeship, work immersion,  or
on-the-job training, and other similar activities.
SEC.   3.   Coverage.   -  This  Act  shall   apply  to   national,   regional,   and   local
government   units   (LGUs),    without   prejudice   to   the    right   of   the    Bangsamoro
Government   and   its   component   LGUs,   to   adopt   and   implement   projects   and
programs for labor and employment,  consistent with  national policies,  laws,  rules and
regulations.
SEC.  4.  rrabaho  Para  sa  Bayan  P/an.  -  The  Trabaho  Para  sa  Bayan  Plan
(TPB  Plan)  shall  be the State's employment generation and  recovery master plan.  It
shall  include  a  three  (3)-year,  six  (6)-year,  and  ten  (10)-year  development  timeline
for its vision,  mission, goals, and milestones.
The Trabaho Para sa Bayan  Inter-Agency Council created  under Section  5 of
this Act  shall  formulate  success  measures,  key  performance  indicators,  and  action
components,  including:
(a)  Providing support for the establishment,  business continuity,  and growth of
MSMEs,   including   start-ups,   through   increased   access  to  financing,   capital,   and
other   incentives,   transition   of   informal   MSMEs   to   formality,   and   other   support
mechanisms;
(b)  Skilling,  upskilling,  and  reskilling  the workforce,  including  industry-relevant
skills and core skills, to improve their employability and competitiveness and to foster
lifelong   learning,   taking   into   consideration   the   nuanced   needs   of  workers   from
marginalized or vulnerable sectors;
(c)   Encouraging   and   providing   incentives  to   employers   and   other   private
sector organizations,  including  industry  stakeholders,  that offer training,  technology,
knowledge  and   skills  transfer,   upski[ling   and   reskilling,   enterprise-based   training,
such  as  apprenticeship,  work  immersion,  or  on-the-job  training,  recognition  of  prior
learning    and    experience,     and    other    similar    activities    geared    towards    the
improvement of the workforce;
(d)   Empowering   the   workforce   on   their   rights   and   obligations   under  the
Philippine   Constitution,   Presidential   Decree   No.   442,   or  the   Labor  Code   of  the
Philippines,  and  other  rules  and  regulations,  including  the  right to  self-organization,
freedom  of  association,  and  collective  bargaining,  through  orientations,  seminars,
and similar modes;


(e)    Identifying   priority   sectors,    key   and   emerging    industries,   and   other
activities with  high  employment potential  for various  purposes,  such  as encouraging
domestic  and  foreign  direct  investments,   implementing  targeted  interventions  and
subsidies, and providing support to create value-adding supply chain;
(f)  Expanding  the  implementation  of active  labor market  policies,  information,
and  programs,  including  employment facilitation and  reintegration support for OFWs,
and  utilizing  innovative  means  to  improve  accessibility  and  efficiency  in  delivering
such services;
(g)  Enhancing  tripartism  and  social  dialogue  among  workers,  employers,  and
the government,  and  increasing the participation  and  representation  of marginaljzed
and vulnerable sectors in.various labor issues and concerns;
(h) Addressing  youth  unemployment by,  among  others,  identifying  challenges
in   the   school-to-work   transition   of   new   entrants   in   the   labor   market,   including
challenges   confronting   youth   not  engaged   in   education,   employment  or  training
(NEET);
(i)  Providing support to,  and promoting the welfare of, all workers in new forms
of work arrangements,  such  as freelance work,  whether in-person  or through  online
platforms or gig economy;
0)  Formulating  integrated  plans and  incentives to encourage and facilitate the
transition   of  workers   and   enterprises  from   the   informal   to  the  formal   economy
through  enabling   interventions,   such  as,   but  not  limited  to,   business  registration,
financial literacy programs, and enrollment in social protection programs, such as the
Social  Security System  (SSS),  Philippine  Health  Insurance  Corporation  (PhilHealth),
and the Home Development Mutual  Fund  (Pag-lBIG);
(k)   Promoting   the   adoption   of  ethical   and   fair   recruitment  standards   and
practices to protect the rights of migrant workers, promote decent work, and enhance
the global competitiveness of Filipino workers;
(I)   Promoting   access   to   and   utilization   of   digital   infrastructure   in   doing
business among  MSMEs and  informal economic units to overcome the digital divide;
and
(in)  Contributing  to  the  implementation  of  the  full-cycle  and  comprehensive
national reintegration program for documented and undocumented OFWs.
SEC. 5. Trabaho Para sa Bayan  Inter-Agency Council (TPB-IAC). -The TPB-
lAC is hereby established, which shall be composed of the following:
(a)   Director-General  of  the   National   Economic  and   Development  Authority
(NEDA),  as Chairperson;
(b)   Secretary   of   the   Department   of   Trade   and   Industry   (DTI),   as   Co-
Chairperson;


(c) Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as Co-
Chairperson;
(d)   Director-General   of  the   Technical   Education   and   Skills   Development
Authority (TESDA), as member;
(e)   Secretary  of  the   Department  of  Budget  and   Management  (DBM),   as
member;
(f) Secretary of the Department of Finance (DOF), as member;
(g)  Secretary of the  Department of Interior and  Local  Government (DILG),  as
member;
(h) One (1 ) representative from the employers' organizations;
(i) One (1) representative from the labor organizations;
¢)   One (1) representative from the marginalized or vulnerable sector; and
(k) One (1 ) representative from the informal sector.
The  TPB-lAC   shall   meet  at   least  every  quarter  or  as   often   as   may  be
necessary.
The      TPB-lAC      chairpersons      and      members      may      designate      their
representatives,   who  shall   have  at   least  the   rank  of  Assistant  Secretary  or  its
equivalent,  and  who  must  be  fully  authorized  to  decide  for  and  on  behalf  of  the
agency represented.
The  Secretariat  of the  TPB-lAC  shall  be  composed  of dedicated  personnel
from  NEDA,   DTl,  and  DOLE,  which  shall  provide  administrative,  operational,  and
technical support to the TPB-IAC.
The TPB-lAC  shall  engage other government agencies and  instrumentalities,
as well as representatives from the labor and employers' organizations,  marginalized
or vulnerable sectors, and informal sectors, as may be necessary.
SEC. 6. Powers and Funcfi.ons of the  7PB-/AC. -The TPB-IAC shall have the
following  powers and functions:
(a)  Formulate  the  TPB  Plan  that  shall  include  action  components,  success
measures,  and  key  performance  indicators  as  provided  under  this  Act  and  such
other strategies and activities as may be necessary;
(b)  Monitor,  review,  evaluate  and  update,  as  necessary,  the  TPB  Plan,  its
implementation    and    accomplishments,    and    identify    gaps    in    execution,    and
recommend improvements;


(c)  Conduct a comprehensive analysis of the employment situation  and  labor
market in the country, global employment and economic trends, existing  policies and
programs affecting the work force and specific workers in particular sectors,  and map
initiatives   undertaken   with   the   support   of   the   private   sector,    non-government
organizations, or international development organizations;
(d)  Review and streamline all existing  policies,  plans,  programs,  projects,  and
all  existing  inter-agency  councils,  and  provide  directions  for  the  alignment  of their
efforts  with  the  TPB  Plan  to  avoid  duplication  of functions,  ensure  effective  use  of
resources, and harmonize and complement all governmental efforts;
(e)    Assist    LCDs    in    planning,    devising,    and    implementing    employment
generation  and  recovery plans and  programs within their localities,  and  ensure their
alignment with the TPB Plan;
(f)  Craft  and  provide  guidelines  for the  institutionalization  of the  TPB  Plan  in
each government agency; and
(g)  Perform such other functions that may be related to the implementation  of
the TPB Plan.
SEC.   7.   Establishment   of   TPB-lAC   Working   Groups.   -To   pursue   the
implementation  of the  TPB  Plan,  working  groups  may  be  established  by  the  TPB-
lAC,  as  may  be  necessary.  The  creation  of working  groups shall  be  in  line with the
objectives  and  targets  as  may  be  indicated   in  the  TPB  Plan  and  shall  work  on
developing   and/or   enhancing   employment   generation   and   recovery   in   specific
industries   and   emerging   sectors,   such   as,   but   not   limited   to,   health   services,
construction,   tourism,   agriculture,    lT   and   business   process   management,   and
manufacturing, as well as working groups on thematic areas.
Each  working  group  shall  be  chaired  by  a  government  agency,  as  may  be
designated    by    the    TPB-lAC.    Industry    sector    representatives    may    also    be
represented and shall participate in the working groups.
SEC. 8.  Review of Existing Hiring  Policies and  Standards.  -The C.IV.il Serv.lee
Commission   (CSC),   Commission  on  Audit  (COA),   and   DBM,   in  consultation  with
relevant  government  agencies  and  LGUs,  shall  conduct  an  analysis  and  review  of
the  existing   hiring   policies  and   standards  of  the  government,   including,   but   not
limited  to,   the  skills  and   competencies   required,   streamlining   and   improving   the
processes  of  recruitment  and  selection,  and  identifying  the  appropriate  manpower
needs of the government.
SEC.  9.  Ro/e  of  Other  Govemmenf  Agenc/.es.  -  All  government  agencies,
including  LGUs,  shall:
(a)   Cooperate   and   coordinate   with   the   TPB-lAC   in   the   alignment   and
integration of the TPB Plan with their policies and programs; and
(b)  If requested,  provide the  necessary  information  to the TPB-lAC to  realize
the objectives of this Act.


SEC.   10.  Raporf/.ng  Requ/.remenfs.  -The  TPB-IAC  shall  submit  an  annual
report to the Office of the  President, the Senate of the  Philippines,  and the  House of
Representatives on the following:
(a)   Timeline   and   status   of  implementation   and   accomplishments   of  each
action component in the TPB Plan;
(b)    Evaluation    of    policies,    plans,    programs,    and    projects    of    relevant
government agencies;
(c)    Recommendations   for   possible   policy   interventions   to    improve   and
address identified  labor market challenges in the TPB Plan; and
(d) Other information that may be relevant.
The  reports shall  be  made  publicly available through  the  respective websites
of the relevant government agencies.
SEC.11.  Implementing  Rules  and  Regulations.  -W.ith.in  one hundred  e.ighty
(180)  days  from  the  effectivity  of this  Act,  NEDA,  DTl,  and  DOLE,  in  coordination
with   all   the   members   of  the   TPB-lAC,   other   concerned   agencies   and   private
stakeholders,  shall  jointly  formulate  the  implementing  rules  and  regulations  for  the
effective implementation of this Act,
SEC.12.  Appropr/.af/.ons.  -The  amount  needed  for the  initial  implementation
of  this   Act   shall   be   charged   against   the   current   year's   appropriations   of  the
departments/agencies  concerned.  Thereafter,  such  sums  as  may  be  necessary for
the  continued  implementation  of  this  Act  shall  be  included  in  the  annual  General
Appropriations Act.
SEC.13.  Saparabt./t.fy  C/ause.  -Any  portion  or  provision  of  this  Act  that  is
declared   unconstitutional   or   invalid   shall   not   have   the   effect   of   nullifying   other
portions or provisions hereof as long  as such  remaining  portions can still subsist and
be given effect in their entirety.
SEC.  14.  Rapea/+.ng  C/ause.  -All  laws,  ordinances,  rules,  regulations,  other
issuances or parts thereof,  which are inconsistent with this Act,  are hereby repealed
or modified accordingly.
SEC.   15.   Effecf/.v/.fy.   -This  Act  shall  take  effect  fifteen   (15)  days  after  its
publication  in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,