FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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First Regular Session 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution guarantees the right of workingmen to security of tenure. Existing labor 
Legislations seeks to give meaning to it. 
It is, however, unfortunate. 
'that smart employers have found a way out to 
comply with what the Law had ordained by preventing an employee from attaining a 
regular status: one, by preventing the employee from completing his six (6) months 
period of probation; the other, by contracting-out the work to the so-called independent 
contractors. 
Both schemes had legally evaded the employee's prospect of attaining his regular status, 
albeit having worked for several years with the employer. 
It is high time we put a stop to these pernicious and evil schemes and give justice to the 
employees. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
* 
A N T O ~ I ~  
"SONNY" F. TIULLANES JV 
Senator 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHLLXPPINES ) 
Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes N 
AN ACT 
RATIONALIZING THE SECURITY OF TENURE OF EMPLOYEES IN THE 
PRIVATE SECTOR, STRENGTHENING THEIR RIGHTS, PROHIBITING 
CONTRACTING-OUT OF WORK, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled 
SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “Rutionalized Security of Tenure 
Act of2008 ’’ 
SEC. 2. Any provision of law, rules and regulations to the contrary 
notwithstanding, employees in the private sector who have rendered work for a period of 
three (3) months, whether continuous or broken and regardless of any interval between 
them, shall be considered regular employees and entitled to security of tenure as provided 
in Art. 279 of P.D. 442 as amended, otherwise known as the Labor Code of the 
Philippines. 
SEC. 3. The period of six (6) months provided for in Art 281 of the Labor Code 
is hereby reduced to three (3) months. 
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SEC.4. The period of three (3) months fixed in this Act shall comprise the 
duration of service rendered after the effectivity of this Act and shall exclude those 
rendered prior thereto regardless of duration. 
SEC 5. This Act shall not apply to domestic helpers, apprentices, seafarers, 
project employees and retail or service enterprises employing not more than ten (10) 
workers including the owner and the managers. 
SEC. 6. This Act shall not cover employees who have attained regular status upon 
the effectivity of this Act. 
SEC. 7. Upon the effectivity of this Act, no employer may contract out the work 
necessarily essential to or inherent in the nature of its business to labor-only contracting 
agencies; Provided, however, That employers with ongoing contracts may be allowed to 
finish the term of such contracts but not beyond one (1) year from the effectivity hereof; 
Provided, further, That the employees under such arrangement shall be credited with the 
duration served during the effectivity of this Act for the purpose of computing the three 
(3) month period of service for regular status; and, Provided, finally, That employers who 
continue to contract-out its work in violation of this Act shall be considered as direct 
employers of the said employees and shall be jointly and severally liable with the Labor- 
only contractors for all compensation and monetary benefits due the employees under all 
labor laws. 
SEC. 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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