&L -9 
R9:41 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
S E N A T E  
12 
S. B. No. 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Labor arbiters are judbes in the Philippine labor setting. They arbibate the very sensitive 
issues between labor and management. They perform their very delicate role in the maintenance 
of industrial peace which is vital to every nation’s economic stability. As a vital cog in OUT 
administration of labor justice, the plight of labor arbiters has long been neglected and their role 
in economic development has gone unrecognized. 
In 1995, RA 8042 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act entrusted to these 
Labor Arbiters the speedy resolution of money claims of Overseas Filipino Workers. About 
7,000 unresolved cases were transferred to them by POEA in 1996. (338 more up to 1998) in 
view of this law. Without an iota if additional resources, they resolved 50% of these transferred 
cases in 1996, almost all of them in 1997 and all in 1998, as new OFWs cases flooded their 
dockets. 
Since they perform an important part in the maintenance of industrial peace and in the 
adjudication of justice in the workplace, it is fitting that Labor Arbiters enjoy equality in rank 
with the judges of the Regional Trial Courts. Appropriate retirement benefits must likewise be 
accorded them to enable them to enjoy the fruits of government service long after they have been 
served it with their best years. 
In the same context, the Commissioners of the National Labor Relations Commission 
who by law enjoy the same salary, allowances and benefits as the Justices of the Court of 
Appeals, except retirement benefits, should be covered also by the corresponding provision in 
the law for their expressed equality with the justices and proper retirement benefits. 
The passage of this bill will grant due recognition to the role of Labor Arbiters and the 
Commissioners of the National Labor Relations Commission in the administration of justice, 
which is an indispensable component of national development 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
JVL -1 
A931 
First Regular Session 
1 
1 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
S E N A T E  
S. B. No. 
1 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
AN ACT 
AMENDING ARTICLES 215 AND 216 OF THE 
LABOR 
CODE 
OF 
THE 
PHILIPPINES, 
AS 
AMENDED, BY 
UPGRADING THE SALARIES, 
ALLOWANCES AND RETIREMENT BENEFITS OF 
LABOR ARBITERS AND THE COMMISSIONERS OF 
THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS COMMISSION 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Article 215 of the Labor Code, as amended, is hereby further amended to 
read as follows: 
I 
Article 215. Appointment and Qualqcatiom. - 
The Chairman 
and other Commissioners shall be members of the Philippine Bar and must have 
been engaged in the practice of Law in the Philippmes for at least fifteen (15) 
years, with at least five (5) years experience or exposure in the field of labor- 
management relations, and shall preferably be resident of the region where they 
hold office. The Executive labor Arbiters and the Labor Arbiters shall likewise be 
members of the Philippine Bar and must have engaged in the practice of law for at 
[least seven (7)] TEN (10) yeaqwith at least three (3) years experience or 
exposure in the field of labor-management relations; Provlded, however, That 
THE EXECUTIVE AND LABOR ARBITERS SHALL APPOINTED TO 
SPECIFIC 
REGIONAL 
ARBITRATION 
BRANCHES 
AND 
SHALL 
PREFERABLY BE RESIDENTS OF THE REGION WHE?E THEY ARE TO 
HOLD OFFICE. AND PROVIDED FINALLY, THAT THE INCUMBENT 
EXECUTIVE AND LABOR ARBITERS PRESENTLY HOLDING ORICE IN 


THEIR RESPECTIVE ARBITRATION BRANCHES WHERE THEY ARE 
ALSO RESIDENTS, SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN APPOINTED 
THEEAT. [that the incumbent Executive Labor Arbiters and Labor Arbiters 
who have been engaged in the practice of law for at least five (5) years may be 
considered as already qualified for purposes of reappointment as such under this 
Act.] 
The Chairman and the other Commissioners, the Executive Labor Arbiters 
and Labor Arbiters shall hold office during good behavior until they reach the age 
of sixty-five (65) years, unless sooner removed for cause as provided by law or 
become incapacitated to discharge the duties of their office. 
The Chairman, the Division Presiding Commissioner and other 
Commissioners shall all be appointed by the President [subject to confinnation by 
the Commission on Appointments]. Appointment to any vacancy shall come 
from the nominees of the sector which nominated the predecessor. The Executive 
Labor Arbiters and Labor Arbiters shall also be appointed by the President, upon 
THE JOINT recommendation of the Secretary of Labor and Employment and 
the CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMTSSION and shall be subject to the Civil 
Service Law, rules and regulations. 
The Secretary of Labor and Employment shall, in consultation with the 
Chairman of the Commission, SHALL appoint the staff and employees of the 
Commission, and its regional branches as the needs of the service may require, 
subject to the Civil Service Law, rules and regulations, and upgrade their current 
salaries and other emoluments in accordance with law. 
SEC. 2. 
Article 216, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows: 
Article 216. 
Suluries, beneJjts and emoluments. - 
The Chairman 
and members of the Commission shall HAVE THE SAM33 RANK, receive an 
annual salary at least equivalent to, and shall be entitled to AND BE ENTITLED 
TO THE SAME ALLOWANCES, RETIFEMENT AND OTHER BENEFITS AS 
THAT OF THE JUDGES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS [that of an 
assistant Regional Director of the Department of labor and Employment and shall 
be entitled to the same allowances and benefits as that of an Assistant Regional 
Director of the Department of Labor and Employment]. In no case, however, shall 


the provision of this Article result in the diminution of existing salaries, 
allowances and benefits of the abovementioned officials. 
SEC. 3. 
Repealing Clause 
- 
All laws, rules and regulations, decrees, 
issuances or any part or parts thereof inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed, modified or 
amended accordingly. 
SEC. 4. 
Effectivity Clnuse. - 
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of 
general circulation, whichever comes first. 
Approved,