NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
S. No.
SENATE
1827
Senate
of lljf
23 FEB-1 ;26
RECEIVL^B^•
Introduced by Senator MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID
AN ACT
EXPANDING THE PROHIBITED ACTS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST 
WOMEN ON ACCOUNT OF SEX, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 442, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
THE "LABOR CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Economic inequality on the basis of gender or sex remains pervasive even with 
the protection provided by our Constitution, the Labor Code, and other statutes. As 
revealed by the World Economic Forum in the 2022 Global Gender Gap report, the 
Philippines ranks 19th out of the 146 countries in closing the gender gap in terms of 
economic participation. Although this shows progress already, it was also reported 
that gender parity is not recovering and it will take about 132 years to close the global 
gender gap. This can be seen in the huge gender pay gap, the proportion of female 
workers in management or high-ranking positions compared to that of male, among 
others. In 2019, the Philippines'female labor force participation was one of the lowest 
in the East Asia and Pacific region. This is in comparison to 76% of Filipino men in 
the labor force.
Addressing this issue would result in a more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive 
economy as gender equality can stimulate economic growth, boost private and public 
sector performance, and reduce income inequality. According to one article, an 
increase of women's labor supply by a mere 0.5 percentage point per year would


increase gross domestic product per capita by about 6% by 2040 and almost 10% by 
2050.
Consistent with the protection enshrined in our Constitution to ensure equal work 
opportunities regardless of sex as well as in recognition of the role of women in nation 
building, this bill seeks to expand the prohibited acts of discrimination against women 
on account of sex by including the acts of favoring a male employee over a female 
employee with respect to assignment and dismissal or retrenchment solely on account 
of sex and of denying female employees the benefits of statutory benefits by reason 
of their sex.
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
M^UEL "LITO" M. LAPID
Senator


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. NO. 1827
,®Sti gienatE
of lit?
23 FEB-1 PI 26
RKCEiVED BY;
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
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AN ACT
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EXPANDING THE PROHIBITED ACTS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST
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WOMEN ON ACCOUNT OF SEX, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
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PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 442, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
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THE "LABOR CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES"
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Article 135 of Presidential Decree No. 442, as amended, otherwise
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known as the "Labor Code of the Philippines", is hereby amended to read as follows:
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Article 135. Discrimination Prohibited. - It shall be unlawful 
for any employer to discriminate against any woman employee 
with respect to terms and conditions to employment solely on 
account of her sex OR CHARACTERISTICS OF HER SEX, 
WHETHER ACTUAL OR PRESUMED.
(a) Payment of a lesser compensation, including wage, 
salary or other form of remuneration and fringe benefits, to a 
female employee as against a male employee, for work of equal 
value;
(b) Favoring a male employee over a female employee with 
respect to ASSIGNMENT, promotion, EMPLOYMENT 
BENEFITS, training opportunities, study and scholarship grants


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solely on account of their SEX OR CHARACTERISTICS OF 
THEIR SEX, WHETHER ACTUAL OR PRESUMED; AND
(C) FAVORING A MALE EMPLOYEE OVER A FEMALE 
EMPLOYEE WITH RESPECT TO DISMISSAL OF 
PERSONNEL OR THE APPLICATION OF ANY 
RETRENCHMENT POLICY OF THE EMPLOYER SOLELY ON 
ACCOUNT OF THEIR SEX OR CHARACTERISTICS OF 
THEIR SEX, WHETHER ACTUAL OR PRESUMED.
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.
Section 2. Article 137 of the Labor Code is hereby amended to read as follows: 
Art. 137. Prohibited acts.
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 WHILE in confinement due to her 
pregnancy;


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(3) To discharge or refuse the admission of such woman upon 
returning to her work for fear that she may again be pregnant
[,] OR
(4) 
TO DENY ANY WOMAN THE BENEFITS OF 
EMPLOYMENT OR OTHER STATUTORY BENEFITS UNDER 
OUR LAWS BY REASON OF HER SEX.
ANY EMPLOYER WHO COMMITS OR ATTEMPTS IN ANY 
MANNER TO COMMIT ANY OF THE ACTS PROHIBITED 
UNDER THIS ARTICLE OR ANY RULE OR REGULATION 
ISSUED PURSUANT THERETO SHALL, IN ADDITION TO 
OTHER PENALTIES AS MAY BE PROVIDED BY LAW, 
UPON CONVICTION, BE PUNISHED WITH A FINE OF NOT 
LESS THAN FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P50,000.00) BUT 
NOT MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS 
(P200,000.00), AND/OR SUFFER IMPRISONMENT 
OF NOT LESS THAN ONE (1) YEAR BUT NOT MORE THAN 
TWO (2) YEARS:
PROVIDED, THAT THE CONVICTION OR ACQUITTAL 
OBTAINED BY THE EMPLOYER SHALL NOT BE A BAR TO 
THE FILING BY THE FEMALE EMPLOYEE OF A CIVIL SUIT 
FOR THE PAYMENT OF SALARIES OR BENEFITS DUE HER.
ANY EMPLOYEE OR PERSON WHO WILLFULLY AIDS OR 
ABETS IN THE COMMISSION OF THE ACTS PROHIBITED 
HEREIN OR WHO CAUSES THE COMMISSION OF ANY 
SUCH ACTS BY ANOTHER SHALL BE LIABLE IN THE SAME 
MANNER AS THE EMPLOYER.
Section 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, decrees, instructions,
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rules and regulations contrary or inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby
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amended, repealed or modified accordingly.


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Section 4. - Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
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after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,