Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Gweriitsen

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RECHL RS
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Sixteenth Congress

Introduced by Emmeline Y. Aglipay
Representative, DIWA Party-List

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish a Productivity Improvement Program, repealing for the
purpose Republic Act (R.A.) No. 6971, otherwise known as the “Productivity Incentives
Act of 1990.”

Article XIII, Section 3 (Social Justice and Human Rights) of the Constitution
provides that the State shall regulate the relations between workers and employers,
recognizing the right of labor to its just share in the fruits of production and the right of

enterprises to reasonable return on investments and to expansion and growth

R.A. No 6971, in turn, states that it is the policy of the State to encourage higher
levels of productivity, maintain industrial peace, and promote the principle of shared
responsibility in employee-employer relationship. It provides fiscal incentives to
establishments that voluntarily undertake productivity improvement programs, and

encourages sharing the gains of improved product

ity performance with workers.

While R.A. No. 6971 is seen as a good piece of social legislation which can

effectively contribute to the attainment of economic development for the country, it is

widely ignored by target sectors because of its seemingly unattractive provisions, It has

been observed, for instance, that since its effectivity in November 1990, only a handful of
business enterprises have adopted and implemented productivity improvement programs

because of perceived policy and operational difficulties

The National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) regularly conducts

regional and sectoral consultations and evaluations on wages and productivity. ‘The result


of the consultations shows the need to liberalize the law to make it more attractive to its

intended beneficiaries and to attain its intended purpose

Adoption of productivity programs will result not only in increased incomes for

both the workers and the establishments; it will likewise make the Filipino workforce

more competitive in international trade, thereby contributing to poverty reduction through

job generation

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought

EMME Hens
Representative, DIWA Party-list



Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

1
HOUSE BILL No. 561

Introduced by Emmeline Y. Aglipay

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM,
REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6971,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PRODUCTIVITY INCENTIVES ACT OF 1990

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress

assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known as the “Productivity

Improvement and Incentives Act of 2013.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - \vis the declared policy of the State

(1) ‘To encourage higher levels of productivity, recognizing the complex
challenges of globalization, in order that Philippine products. and
services can meet global competition, maintain industrial peace and

harmony and promote the principles of partnership and shared
responsibility in the relations between workers and employers, and

Q) To provide corresponding incentives to both labor and capital for
undertaking programs that ensure workers with a just share in the

fruits of their labor

relation to the profit yielded to the employer as
a result of increased productivity, in recognition of the right of labor to
its share in the fruits of production and the right of business
enterprises to reasonable returns on investment and to expansion and

growth

SEC. 3. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to all business enterprises with or
without existing and duly recognized collective bargaining representatives, including
government-owned and controlled corporations performing proprietary functions. It shall
cover all employees and workers regardless of their position, designation or status and

irrespective of the manner and mode by which their wages are paid.


SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act

(a) “Business enterprise” refers. to industrial, agricultural or
agro-industrial establishments engaged in the production, manufacturing, processing,
repacking or assembly of goods, including service-oriented enterprises that are

established and operated for profit or gain.

(b) “Productivity Committee” refers to a committee in a business enterprise

composed of an equal number of representatives from the management and the rank-and-

file employees, created to (1) establish a productivity and performance incentives and
gainsharing program, and (2) settle disputes arising therefrom in accordance with Section

10. The members shall have equal voting rights

(c) “Productivity Improvement Program” refers to a formal agreement
voluntarily established by the Productivity Committee or any existing labor-management

mechanism, containing a productivity improvement prog

m that will promote gainful
employment, improve working conditions, attain and maintain industrial peace and result
in increased productivity and efficiency, including cost savings, as well as a gainsharing
program whereby the employer and the workers share in the positive results of business
operation brought about by improvement in productivity. The agreement shall be ratified
by at least a majority of the employees who have rendered at least six (6) months of
continuous service. In case the productivity committee makes fundamental changes in

the program, the employees shall likewise ratify such changes

(d) “Productivity Incentives/Gainsharing” refer to a reward system resulting
from the adoption of a productivity improvement program. The incentives system to be
adopted by the business enterprises may take the form of profit-sharing or other forms of

gainsharing mechanisms such as productivity bonus, performance bonus, production

bonus, and employee stock option plan, among others,

SEC. 5. Productivity Committee. - (a) For purposes of creating a Productivity
Committee, the classification of business establishments into micro, small, medium and
large enterprises shall be based on employment size criteria of the Department of Labor
and Employment, i.¢., large establishments — 200 or more workers, medium
establishments — 100-199 workers, small establishments — 10-99 workers, and micro

establishments — 1-9 workers.


(b) It shall be mandatory for all establishments, except micro establishments, to
create a Productivity Committee composed of representatives from management and
rank-and-file employees. This committee shall develop and/or implement a productivity
improvement program, monitor and evaluate outcomes of the program on the workplace,
settle disputes arising therefrom in accordance with Section 10, and submit to the
appropriate Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) the documents
required under Section 9: Provided, That both management and labor shall have equal
representation in said committee or mechanism; Provided, further, That at the request of
the productivity committee, the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC)
and/or the appropriate RTWPB shall provide the necessary studies, technical information

and assistance, and expert advice to enable the parties to conclude productivity

agreements. In case there is already an existing labor-management mechanism in the
enterprise, such mechanism may suffice, Provided, That it includes as one of its

objectives the development and implementation of a productivity improvement program

(c) All establishments, except micro establishments shall be given two (2) years
from the effectivity of this Act, within which to create a Productivity Committee, to
develop and implement a productivity improvement program, and/or register the same

under Section 8 of this Act.

(4) Micro establishments are not required to create a productivity committee but
they are encouraged to avail of the technical assistance provided by the NWPC and/or the

appropriate RTWPBs

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improvement program in accordance with the terms and conditions that may be agreed

. 6. Productivity Improvement Program. - (a) ‘The productivity

upon by labor and management shall contain provisions for measuring productivity,
performance and efficiency improvements, the gainsharing or reward system adopted in
sharing productivity bonuses, coverage, percentage sharing, and forms of bonus payment,
Provided, That the productivity bonus shall be distributed at such frequency as may be

determined by the parties which in no case shall be less than once a year

(b) Productivity agreements voluntarily reached by the parties in accordance with

this Act may supplement existing collective bargaining agreements

SEC. 7. Benefits and Tax Incentives. ~ (a) Subject to the provision of Section
9 hereof, a business enterprise adopting a productivity improvement program, duly and
mutually agreed upon by parties to the productivity committee, shall be granted a special

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deduction from gross income equivalent to one hundred percent (100%) of the total
productivity bonuses given to employees under the program, over and above the total
allowable ordinary and necessary business deductions for said bonuses under the

National Internal Revenue Code, as amended.

(b) Grants for manpower training and special studies given to rank-and-file
employees pursuant to a skills development program prepared by the productivity

committee under the productivity and performance incentives program shall also entitle

the business enterprise to a special deduction from gross income equivalent to one
hundred percent (100%) of the total grants, over and above the allowable ordinary and
necessary business deduction for said grants under the National Internal Revenue Code,

as amended,

(c) The special deductions from the gross income provided for herein shall be

allowed starting the taxable year after the effectivity of this Act.

(d) Workers’ incentives/bonuses derived from the programs shall be exempt

from income taxation.

(e) Bonuses provided for under the productivity improvement program shall
be given to the employees in a manner determined by the parties at the start of such
program, These shall be over and above existing bonuses granted by the business
enterprise and by law: Provided, That the said bonuses shall not be deemed as salary

increases due the employees and workers

SEC. 8. Certification by the RTWPBs. - A business enterprise which adopts &
productivity improvement program shall submit copies of the same to the appropriate
RTWPB for evaluation and certification, The submission shall include the type of
program, the objectives, design and outcomes. The benefits under this Act shall not
accrue until the Productivity Incentives Program has been certified by the RTWPB
Thereafter, the enterprise shall forward the certified program to the BIR solely for record

purposes.

Any business enterprise that fails to adopt a productivity improvement program or
fails to submit copies of the same to the appropriate RTWPB shall pay an annual fine in
an amount to be determined by the DOLE until such time that it has complied with

Section 5 and 8 of this Act



SEC.9. Disputes and Grievances. - Whenever disputes, grievances, or other
matters arise from the interpretation or implementation of the productivity improvement
program, the productivity committee shall meet to resolve the dispute within fifteen (15)
days and shall suspend the effectivity of the program pending settlement of such dispute
or grievance. If there is no productivity committee created due to the existing labor-
management committee, such committee shall resolve the dispute within the same period
If within the period, the dispute remains unresolved, the committee may seek the
assistance of a third party such as appropriate RTWPB or the Department of Labor and
Employment, or a facilitator acceptable to both parties, in resolving the conflict. The

third party shall act only in an advisory capacity, for purposes of interpretation and

clarification, to facilitate the adoption of a final resolution by the parties: Provided, ‘That
the business enterprise shall not be deemed to have forfeited any tax incentives aceried
prior to the date of occurrence of such dispute or grievance, and the workers shall not be
required to reimburse the productivity bonuses already granted to them under the
incentives program, Likewise, bonuses that have already accrued before the dispute or

grievance shall be paid the workers within six (6) months from their accrual. Any dispute

which remains unresolved within thirty (30) days from the time of its submission to the

productivity committee shall be submitted for voluntary arbitration in line with the

pertinent provisions of the Labor Code, as amended

‘The productivity improvement program shall include the name(s) of the voluntary

arbitrator or panel of voluntary arbitrators previously chosen and agreed upon by the

EC. 10. Penalty. - Any person who shall make any fraudulent claim under this
Act, regardless of whether or not a tax benefit has been granted, shall, upon conviction,
be punished with imprisonment of not less than two (2) years but not more than four (4)
years or a fine of not less than fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) but not more than One
hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the Court, without

prejudice to prosecution for any other acts punishable under existing laws

In case of partnerships or corporations, the penalty shall be imposed upon the
officer(s) or employee(s) who knowingly approved, authorized or ratified the filing of the

fraudulent claim, and other persons responsible therefor

SEC. 12. Non-Diminution of Benefits. - Nothing in this Act shall be construed

to diminish or reduce any benefits and other privileges enjoyed by the workers under

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existing laws, decrees, executive orders, company policy or practice, or any agreement or

contract between the employer and employees

SEC. 13. Implementing Rules. - The Secretary of Labor and Employment,
Secretary of Finance, the Secretary of Education, the Chairman of CHED and the
Director General of TESDA, in consultation with the National Wages and Productivity

Commission, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and the labor and employers’ sectors, shall

jointly promulgate and issue within-six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act such

rules and regulations as are necessary to carry out the provisions hereof.

As part of its labor education program, the NWPC and the RTWPBs shall coiduct
an extensive public information campaign to promote the productivity and performance

incentives and gainsharing program

SEC. 14. Technical Guidelines. - The NWPC, pursuant to Art, 121 (b), Labor
Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 6727, shall formulate policies and guidelines on
the technical side of the productivity improvement program such as the design, formulae

and other related matter.

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unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other

15. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared

provisions thereof

SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. - Republic Act No. 6971, otherwise known as the
Productivity Incentives Act of 1990, is hereby repealed. All laws, executive orders,

presidential decrees, presidential proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof

inconsistent with the provisions this Act are hereby repealed or modified ac

ordingly

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publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of national

17. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

circulation

Approved.