NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 1419
of tlif fef crptnij.
*22 OCT 27 P3 :49
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
PROVIDING PROTECTION TO FREELANCERS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Entrepreneurship and self-employment go together hand-in-hand. The pursuit 
of economic growth and development is propelled by capital put forth by 
entrepreneurs, and entrepreneurs more often than not come from the ranks of 
specialized professionals, such as those who come from the self-employed and trade 
craftsmen sectors, offering very specific products and services.
In recent years and with the proliferation of the use of technology, the gig 
economy flourished and a significant number of workers engaged in freelance work, 
especially in online platforms. This changed the concept of work and employer- 
employee relationship that brought about vague monitoring and promotion of labor 
rights.
The proposed "Freelancers Protection Act" seeks to provide protection to 
freelancers or those who offer or render a task, work or service through their freely 
chosen means or methods. It lays down the rights for these workers in line with 
Constitutional principles and international human rights instruments and labor 
standards. Further, it mandates the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to 
implement and monitor the standards for freelance work. The Civil Service 
Commission (CSC) on the other hand, is tasked to issue rules and regulations that will 
govern the freelancers in the public sector.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
RAMON BONGilEVILLA, JR.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 1419
(©fftip of file iS ofi ptfi I'p
*22 OCT 27 P3:49
RECEIVED BY;
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
PROVIDING PROTECTION TO FREELANCERS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the ''Freelancers Protection
Act'1
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote gainful 
employment and decent work for all workers. Towards this end, the State shall provide 
a regulatory framework that guarantees full protection to all workers in new forms of 
work arrangements, such as freelance work, weather in-person or through online 
platforms or gig economy, which has grown exponentially with technological 
development, weakening labor rights and changing concepts of work and employer- 
employee relationship.
Sec. 3. Coverage. - This Act shall cover all freelancers, regardless of the 
profession, talent, skills, task, work or service required or to be rendered.
Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms are 
hereby defined:
(a) Client - refers to any foreign or Philippine-based person, company or 
entity, or platform provider who engages a freelancer to render specific 
task, work or service in-person or online;
(b) Crowdwork- refers to online work through platforms that connect vast 
numbers of clients, organizations, and businesses, often across borders.


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It is performed online by an infinite number of workers for clients spread
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over large geographic distance;
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(c) Freelance workers or freelancer- refers to any natural person who offers
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or renders a task, work or service through his or her freely chosen means
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or methods, free from any forms of economic dependence, control or
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supervision by the client, regardless of whether he or she is paid by
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results, peace, task, hour, day, job, or by the nature of the service as
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required;
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(d) Freelance work - refers do the work that is infrequent, unpredictable
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and short term, and rendered in-person, online, or through any online
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web platforms, such as crowdwork, work on-demand or any digital
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lifestyle application;
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(e) Platform provider- refers to any foreign or Philippine-based online web
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platform provider the connect workers with the consumer of work and
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facilitate the exchange of goods and services for money such as crowd
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work, work on-demand or any digital lifestyle applications, that provides
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facilities, accounts, and training for one or several freelancers in the
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Philippines;
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(f) Work-on-demand- refers to the piatform-facilitated yet place-based and
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geographically limited 
work;
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(g) Written contract - refers to a document, whether electronic file or
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printed copy, reflecting the mutual consent of the parties to be bound
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by the terms and conditions of their freelance work engagement and the
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consideration for the services rendered by the freelancer.
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Sec. 5. Contractual Relations. - The relationship between the client and the
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freelancer, absent proof of existence of employer-employee relationship, shall be
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governed primarily by applicable civil and commercial laws. In no case however, shall
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the terms and conditions thereof derogate the rights of workers guaranteed by the
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Philippine Constitution or be lower than the minimum standards provided by the
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"Labor Code of the Philippines", as amended, or by industry standards and
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international labor standards.


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Sec. 6. Rights of Freelancers. - nie State shall accord the freelancers all the 
rights of workers guaranteed under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, applicable 
provisions of the -Labor Code of the Philippines", as amended, and relevant 
international human rights instruments and international labor standards. For this 
purpose, the State shall ensure the formulation by the concerned agencies of poliaes
and programs for the free agents of the following;
(a) Right to a written contract or agreement;
(b) Right to just compensation and equal remuneration of work of equal 
value without manipulation or distinction of any kind,
(c) Right to safe and healthy working conditions;
(d) Right to self-organization and to collectively negotiate with the 
government, the client, and other entities for the promotion of their 
welfare and in the advancement of their rights and interests;
(e) Right to be free from any form of discrimination, violence, sexual
harassment, and abuse;
(f) Right to representation and participation in policy and decision making 
processes and social dialogue;
(g) Right to access their own data, information and resources for the 
promotion and protection of their rights and welfare;
(h) Right to affordable and adequate financial services, including, among 
others, collateral-free and gender-balanced credit at low interest;
(i) Right to education and skills training;
(j) Right to social protection and social welfare benefits, and
(k) Right to speedy redress of grievances, including alternative dispute
resolution processes.
sec. 7. Standards tor Freelance Work. - The Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE) shall ensure the following;
(a) Compliance with the written contract between the freelancer an t e 
client, which shaii be in a language understood by both parties. Each 
party to the contract shall retain a copy thereof, and shall include, at the
minimum, the following;


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1) Itemization of all work and/or services to be provided by the
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freelancer and the terms and conditions of the engagement;
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2) The rate and method of compensation, date on which the client
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shall pay the compensation or the mechanism by which such due
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date shall be determined;
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3) The name and registered address of the client, and in the case of
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a foreign or foreign-based entity, the name and address of the
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local agent or representative, or any duly acknowledged
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representative based in the Philippines; and
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4) Any other terms and conditions that govern the performance of
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the mutual obligations of the parties that are not contrary to law,
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morals, good customs, public order or public policy.
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In the absence of a written agreement, any written exchange or proof
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of submission and receipt of completed task, work or service subject of the
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freelance work engagement, whether electronic or printed, shall be sufficient
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basis for claim for compensabon or payment against the client;
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(b) Registration of freelancers or freelancers' association in the DOLE
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Registry of Freelancers and provide them with labor market interventions
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and assistance: Provided, That registration with the DOLE shall not be
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construed as a requirement to be able to engage as a freelancer;
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(c) Free exercise of freelancers' right to self-organization and to collectively
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negotiate with the government, the client, and other entities for the
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promotion of their welfare and in the advancement of their rights and
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interests, and their representation and participation in policy and
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decision-making processes and social dialogue;
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(d) Observance of programs and policies on non-discrimination, absence of
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violence, sexual harassment, and abuse of freelance work environment;
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(e) Entering into bilateral or multilateral agreements with countries where
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online web platforms are registered or located for the protection and
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enforcement of Philippine freelancers' rights.
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Sec. 8. Right to Access their Own Data and Information. - The Department of
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Information and Communications Technology (DICT) shall conduct trainings for online


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freelancers, freelancers, and in coordination with the appropriate regulating agency,
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such as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Department of Trade and
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Industry (DTE), ensure that freelancers engaged with or through platform providers
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or online web platforms shall have access to their own data, information and resources
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for the promotion and protection of their rights and welfare.
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Sec. 9. Right to Affordable and Adequate Financial Services. - The DTI and
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other government financial institutions shall provide freelancers access to affordable
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and adequate financial services, including, among others, collateral-free and gender-
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balanced credit at low interest.
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Sec. 10. Right to Education and Skills Training. - The Technical Education and
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Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and other government agencies, such as the
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Department of Science and Technology (DOST), DTI and DICT shall provide training
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and certifications for upskilling and entrepreneurial enhancement of freelancers.
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Sec. 11. Right to Social Protection and Social Welfare Benefits. - The Social
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Security System (SSS), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and Home
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Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) shall ensure a simplified and online registration
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and remittance process for freelancers as self-employed workers and provide easy
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access to members' benefits such as sickness and unemployment benefits.
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Sec. 12. Right to Simplified Tax Registration, Filing and Payment System. -
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The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) shall simplify and automate the registration
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process and minimize the requirements for the registration of freelancers. The BIR
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shall also further enhance the online filing of tax returns and payment of appropriate
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taxes, including online submission of requirements. It shall also provide assistance to
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freelancers in their application, registration, and processing of documents and other
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inquiries.
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Sec. 13. Right to Redress of Grievances, including Alternative Dispute
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Resolution Process. - The right of freelancers to seek redress for grievances and to
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avail of alternative dispute mechanisms in accordance with law shall be guaranteed.
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For this purpose, the DOLE shall conduct seminars on the legal recourses available to
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freelancers, and as far as practicable, encourage the parties to a freelance work
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agreement to avail of alternative dispute mechanisms.


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Sec. 14. Payment; Burden of Proof. - Except as otherwise provided under the
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contract entered into by the parties, the agreed compensation shall be paid in full not
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later than thirty (30) days after the completion of the task, work or service subject of
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the freelance work engagement.
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The burden of proving the payment of the compensation or consideration due
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to the freelancer as agreed under the contract shall rest on the client, upon proof of
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performance or completion of the job or service contracted.
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Sec. 15. Prohibited Acts. - The following acts shall be prohibited under this
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Act:
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(a) Contract Alteration. Once performance of the work or service under the
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contract has commenced, no freelancer shall be required to accept less
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than the specified or agreed contract price, as a condition for the
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payment of the service or work rendered: Provided, That nothing herein
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precludes the parties from arriving at a settlement in good faith of a
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dispute arising out of or in connection with a contract or from agreeing
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to a modification of the contract, in accordance with applicable laws.
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(b) Deduction. No deduction shall be made on the agreed contract price or
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compensation, unless the parties have agreed otherwise, or such
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deduction is on account of payment of applicable taxes.
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(c) Waiver. Except as otherwise provided by law, any provision of any
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contract entered into by a freelancer and a client, purporting to waive
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any of the rights provided under this Act, shall be void as against public
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policy.
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Any person who commits any of the foregoing prohibited acts shall be meted a
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fine equivalent to up to three (3) times the contract price or compensation agreed
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upon in the contract between the freelancer and the client.
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Sec. 16. Public Awareness Program. - The DOLE, DTI, DICT and other relevant
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agencies shall raise public awareness on the rights and welfare of freelancers.
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Information dissemination on the provisions of this Act, its implementing rules and
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regulations and capacity building on reasonable pricing of task, work or service,
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payment methods, entrepreneurship and career development in freelance work shall
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also be conducted.


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Sec. 17. Prospective Application. — This Act shall apply to contracts or
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agreements entered into on or after the effectivity of this Act.
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Sec. 18. Applicability to Freelancers in the Public Sector. - The Civil Service
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Commission (CSC) shall issue the appropriate rules and regulations applicable to
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freelancers in the public sector to ensure compliance with the rights and privileges
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granted to freelancers under this Act, subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations
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governing workers in the public sector.
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Sec. 19. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within sixty (60) days
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from the effectivity of this Act, the DOLE, Dll, DICT, DOST, TESDA, DOTr, upon
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consultation with the BIR, SSS, PhilHealth and HDMF, and other relevant agencies and
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sectors, shall promulgate the IRR as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of
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this Act.
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Sec. 20. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise
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affected shall remain in full force and effect.
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Sec. 21. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
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executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary
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to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or
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amended accordingly.
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Sec. 22. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
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circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,