Republic of dre Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HOUSEBELLNo990g
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Introduced dy Representative Jaime R. Fresnedi
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Job seeking can be an expensive process. Employers often require many documents
from government agencies and schools to determine the identity, qualifications, and records of
an  applicant.  These  documents  are  not issued  for  free,  and therefore  when  a prospective
employer keeps the original copy and then does not hire the applicant, it would be to the
detriment of the hatter.
For example, an NBI Clearance costs P130 with a P25 service fee. In 10 applications,
theapplicantwouldhavealreadyspentmorethanathousandpesos.Thesaneappliesforbirth
certificates, which cost P155 if received by appointment and P330 if delivered. There are also
various costs associated with securing transcript of records from universities. In addition to
these costs, the apphicant incurs an opportunity cost from the time and effort required to get
another authentic copy of the document to apply for another job.                                              .
This bill scks to minimize these costs by requiring employers to be satisfied with
digitalcopiesorphotocopiesofthesedocuments,untilsuchatimethattheyhiretheapplicant.
In this way, the applicant only needs to get one copy of these documents even if he intends to
apply to many different prospective employers.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is eanestly sought.
Lone District, Muntinlupa City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HOusE BILL NO. 3an
Introduced by Rep. Jaime R. Fresnedi
AN ACT PRESCRIBING THE USE 0F GOVERNMHNT-ISSUED DOCUMENTS IN
JOB APPLICATIONS, PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR
Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  the  House  of Representatives  Of the  Philippines  in
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Sfeor/ rzt/e. -This Act shall be referred to as the  "Job Reg#z.7ie77ce77/s' 4c/ ".
SEC. 2. Dec/czrcz/7.o# o/Po/z.c)/. -It is the policy of the State, to promote full employment
and protect the rights and welfare of workers. To this end, the State shall endeavor to reduce,
where practicable,  incidental costs to  seeking employment among Filipino citizens, without
compromising the right of an employer to choose the most suitable candidate for a position.
SEC.  3.  De¢#z./i.o# o/ rer772f. -For purposes of this Act, the  following terms  shall be
defined as follows:
(a)   j4pp/I.ccz73/ is defined as an individual who, by his own volition or through an offer
from an employer, is being considered for a salaried position with the organization,
enteaprise, or household of the latter;
(b)   Gover#"e7z/ doc#7#e#/I are doculnents issued by government agencies to attest to
the identity, record, or qualifications of an applicant, with or without an expiration
date, which are issued with cost to an individual;
(c)   Orz.gz.#cJ/ capy is defined as the original copy of a government or school document
which meets any of the following criteria:
a.    Issued at the request of the applicant upon payment ofa fee, whether per
document or per page;
b.   Has  the  wet   signature   of  the   individual   authorized  to   sign  such
documents  to  prove  their  authenticity,  and/or  the  dry   seal  of  the
organization issuing the document; or
c.    Printed on  security paper,  or any  kind of paper which is  intended to
prove authenticity and deter the submission of copies.
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(d)   Prospec/z've  e"p/o};er  is  defined  as  the  individual,  organization,  enteaprise,  or
government agency that is considering the applicant for a salaried pbsition, or any
individual  who  is  entrusted  by  the  hiring  individual,  organization,  enteaprise,  or
agency  to  be  a  part  of the  hiring  process  for  the  said  applicant,  including  the
supervisors,  managers,  officers,  directors,  and  heads  of  the  said  organization,
enterprise, or agency;
(e)   Scfooo/ c7oc#7#e7?/s' is defined as documents from a school attesting to the attendance,
grades, and qualifications of an applicant issued with cost to an individual.
SEC. 4. Covercrgr, -The provisions of this Act shall apply to all prospective employers
who  intend to hire  citizens or residents of the  Philippines  for jobs whether for permanent,
temporary, co-terminous, contractual, contract of service, job order, or other similar positions
for government agencies and for regular, probationary, fixed-term, seasonal, project, or casual
employment for private individuals, organizations, and enterprises within the territory of the
Philippines. Prov!.c/ecJ, That government agencies seeking to hire individuals for positions that
will  handle  confidential  material  related  to  national  defense  or  national  security  shall  be
exempted from this provision.
SEC.  5.  Jieg#/cr/z.o#  a//.ob  reg#z.re7#e#r6'.  - Prospective  employers  may  not  take  the
original copy of any government document or school document from an applicant unless the
applicant has already been accepted and has signed a contract with the prospective employer.
The prospective employer may make the fulfillment of his obligations in the hiring contract
contingent on the submission of the original copies of the requirement government and school
documents.
SEC. 6. /mp/emc7!/a/joy?. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the
Civil Service Commission (CSC) shall set up mechanisms to receive, investigate, and monitor
complaints arising from violations of Section 5 of this Act. It shall be incumbent upon these
agencies to take the necessary corrective measures against erring prospective employers.
SEC.  7.  Implementing  Rules  and  Regulations.  -The  Departmerit  o£  Labor  a.nd
Employment, the Civil Service Commission, and all other relevant agencies shall promulgate
the rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act within six (6) months from
its effectivity.
SEC.   8.   A9epc7rcrbj./I.fy   C/aztj`e.   ~   If  any   provision   of  this  Act   shall   be   deemed
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not affected there shall remain in force and
effect.
SEC.  9,  J3epecz/r.ng  C/c}"se.  - All Actst  Presidential  Decrees,  Executive  Orders  and
Administrative Orders, Rules and Regulations and other such issuances or parts thereof which
are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
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SEC.  10. E#ecfz.w'fy` -This Act shall take effect fifteen (I 5) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,
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