THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator Juan M. FIavier 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
To further facilitate the administration and enforcement of the provisions of the 
Labor Code as amended, it is proper to transfer the jurisdiction from NLRC to the 
Regional Office of the Department of Labor and Employment by removing the FIVE 
THOUSAND CEILING found in Article 129 of the said Code. Thus, in order for the 
Regional Director to acquire jurisdiction over labor-related claims, it is proper to 
introduce the phrase “REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT OF CLAIM”. 
The bill also proposes the relocation of the jurisdiction of labor arbiters in 
handling all money claims, with exception, to reduce the inflow of cases to the NLRC. 
With this amendment, the administration and enforcement of cases involving 
recovery of wages, money claims and other benefits will now be made faster. In effect, 
there will also be a speedy disposition of labor related cases. 
Hence, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 


1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
1 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
S E N A T E  
S. No. 2 0 E;: "2 
,. 
Introduced by Senator Juan M. Flavier 
AN ACT DEFINING THE JURISDICTION OF LABOR CASES 
BETWEEN THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATION COMMISSION 
AND THE REGIONAL OFFICES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE, 
ARTICLES 129 AND 217 OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE 
FOUR HUNDRED FORTY TWO (PD 442), AS AMENDED, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LABOR CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Article 129 of the Labor Code is hereby further amended, to read 
as follows: 
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, REGARDLESS OF 
THE AMOUNT OF CLAIM, is empowered through snmmary proceedings 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 household helper under this Code, arising 
from employer-employee relations: Provided, that such complaint does not include a 
claim for reinstatement. 
SEC. 2. Article 217 (a) (6) of the Labor Code is hereby M e r  amended to read 
as follows: 
Art. 217. Jurisdiction of Labor Arbiters and the Commission. 
xxx 
(a) (6) Exceptions. - 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 ALL MONETARY CLAIMS ACCOMPANIED WITH A CLAIM 
FOR REINSTATEMENT. 
SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, acts, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations or other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are 
hereby modified and repealed. 


SEC. 4. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect after sfteen (15) days 
following its publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,