FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Third Regular Sessioll 
) . 
SENATE 
339~'; 
S.B.No. __ 
~ 
Introduced by Sen. Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Every child has the right to live the life of a child: to play, to be carefree, to attend 
school, and to enjoy a healthy environment. However, the rising incidence of poverty 
and the lack of good employment opportunities for parents deprive mdny children the 
pleasures of childhood and are immediately immersed into the world of labor. 
Data from the National Statistics Office (NSO) shows that there are roughly Five 
MilJion children who are part of the Philippine labor force. Of this number, not less 
than 2.99 Million children are exposed to hazardous forms of child labor.! 
Republic Act No. 9231, otherwise known as 
U An Act Providing for the 
Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor and Affording Stronger Protection for 
the Working Child, which amended Republic Act No. 7610, otherwise known as the 
'Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination 
Act''', clearly prohibits, as a general rule, the employment of children and punishes 
employers for such practice. However, the rising incidence of child labor in the country 
shows that the penalties presently imposed are not sufficient to deter the continued 
employment of children. 
This proposed measure seeks to provide harsher penalties for violations of RA. 
No. 9231 by imposing both imprisonment and fine for every instance that a child is 
engaged in employment other than in the instances permitted by law. Moreover, this 
bill proposes to raise the fines imposed on employers who continue to engage in illegal 
child labor practices. 
paD 
MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID r 
2011 Survey on Children, Preliminary Results, National Statistics Office and 1nternational Labor Organization 
- International Progrmnme on the Elimination of Child Labor 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Third Regl/lar Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 
3393 
I~ 
Introduced by Sen. Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
AMENDING SECTIONS 16(A) AND 16(B) OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9231, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ELIMINATION OF 
THE WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR AND AFFORDING STRONGER 
PROTECTION FOR THE WORKING CHILD, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE OF 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7610, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
"SPECIAL 
PROTECTION 
OF 
CHILDREN 
AGAINST 
CHILD 
ABUSE, 
EXPLOITATION AND DISCRIMINATION ACT" 
Be it enacted by tlte Senate and the HOllse of Representatives of the Philippines in 
COllgress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 16 of Republic Act No. 9231 otherwise known as "An Act 
Providing for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor and Affording 
Stronger Protection for the Working Child, Amending for this Purpose Republic Act 
No. 7610, as Amended, otherwise known as the 'Special Protection of Children Against 
Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act''' is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
Sec. 16. Pellal Provisions-
a) 
Any employer who violates Sections 12, 12-A, and Section 14 of 
this act, as amended, shall be penalized by imprisonment of six 
(6) months and one (1) day to six (6) years [or] AND a fine of 
[Fifty thousand (PSO,OOO.OO) but not more than Three hundred 
thousand 
pesos 
(P300,000.00)] 
NOT LESS THAN ONE 
HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND PESOS 
(P125,OOO.OO) [or both at the discretion of the comtl-
b) 
Any person who violates the provision of Section 12-D of this act 
or the employer of the subcontractor who employs, or the one 
who facilitates the employment of a child in hazardous work, 
2 


shall suffer the penalty of a fine of not less than [One hundred 
thousand pesos (P'IOO,OOO.OO) but not more than One million 
pesos (PLOOO,OOO,OO)] TWO HUNDRED FIFIY THOUSAND 
PESOS (P250,OOO.OO) AND imprisonment of not less than twelve 
(12) years and one (1) day to twenty (20) years, or both such fine 
and imprisonment at the discretion of the court. 
SECTION 2. Impleme1lting Agency. The Department of Labor and Employment 
(DOLE) shall prom ulgate rules and regulations to im plement the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 3. Repealillg Clause. All laws, decrees, order, rules and regulations, 
or portions thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or mod ified 
accordingly. 
SECTION 4. Separability Clause. Should any part or provision of this Act be 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof not otherwise 
affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
SECTION 5. 11fectivity. This Act shalt take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in ,at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
3