SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. B. No. 
2248 
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR SONNY M. ANGARA 
AN ACT 
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STRENGTHENING THE OPERATIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS 
COMMISSION, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE ARTICLES 213 AND 215 OF 
P.D. NO. 442, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
THE LABOR CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) is the principal government 
agency. that hears and decides labor-management disputes. It is tasked to promote and 
maintain industrial peace by resolving labor and management disputes involving both local 
and overseas workers throgh compulsory arbitration after mandatory concili!ation-mediation 
conferences failed. 
From 2004-2013, or over a period of ten years, NLRC Regional Arbitration Branches 
received an average of 32,243 cases while the Commission handled an average of 11,465 
appealed cases on the same period. With the overwhelming load of cases filed in NLRC, it is 
constantly faced with the challenge of resolving labor disputes in the fairest, quickest, least 
expensive and most effective way possible. 
This Bill is aimed to provide NLRC with a degree of flexibility as to immediately adapt 
to varying industrial relations scenarios like the sudden increase of case loads by: 
1. Increasing the number of Commission Attorneys assigned to each 
NLRC 
Commissioner from three (3) to five (5); 
2. Remove the prohibition on assigning Labor Arbiters to perform the functions of 
Commission Attorneys or be detailed to the office of any NLRC Commissioner; and 
3. Remove the requirement that Labor Arbiters be appOinted to specific arbitration 
branch including the preference that they are residents from that particular region. 
The aforesaid amendments to the Labor Code will help NLRC in its significant role in 
national economic development, particularly in promoting and maintaining industrial peace 
through just and expeditious resolution of disputes between labor and capital. 
In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 


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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
'14 
HAY 27 P 6 :28 
SENATE 
S. B. No. 
2248 
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR SONNY M. ANGARA 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING THE OPERATIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS 
COMMISSION, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE ARTICLES 213 AND 215 OF 
P.D. NO. 442, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
THE LABOR CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Article 213 of P.O. No. 442 as amended, otherwise known as the 
Labor Code of the Philippines, is hereby further amended to read as follows: 
Article 213. National Labor Relations Commission. - There shall 
be a National Labor Relations Commission which shall be attached to 
the Department of Labor and Employment solely for program and 
policy coordination, composed of a Chairman and twenty-three (23) 
members. 
x 
x 
x 
The Commission and its eight (8) divisions shall be assisted by 
the Commission Attorneys in its appellate and adjudicatory functions 
whose term shall be coterminous with the Commissioners with whom 
they are assigned. The Commission Attorneys shall be members of the 
Philippine Bar with at least one year experience or exposure in the field 
of labor-management relations. They shall receive annual salaries and 
shall be entitled to the same allowances and benefits as those falling 
under Salary Grade twentY-Six (26). There shall be as many 
Commission Attorneys as may be necessary for the effective and 
efficient operation of the Commission but in no case more than FIVE 
(5) [three (3)] assigned to the Office of the Chairman and each 
Commissioner. 
[No Labor Arbiter shall be assigned to perform the functions of the 
Commission Attorney nor detailed to the office of any Commissioner] 
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SECTION 2. Article 215 of the Labor Code is hereby amended to read 
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as follows: 
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Article 215. Appointment and Qualifications. -- The Chairman 
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and other Commissioners shall be members of the Philippine Bar and 
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must have been engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines for at 
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least fifteen (15) years, with at least five (5) years experience or 
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exposure in the fieldof labor-management relations, 
and 
shall 
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preferably be residents of the region where they shall hold office. The 
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Labor Arbiters shall likewise be members of the Philippine Bar and 
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must have been engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines for at 
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least ten (10) years, with at least five (5) years experience or exposure 
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in the field of labor relations. 
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The Chairman, the other Commissioners and the Labor Arbiters 
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shall hold office during good behaviour until they reach the age of 
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sixty-five (65) years unless sooner removed or cause as provided by 
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law or become incapacitated to discharge the duties of their office: 
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Provided however, That the President of the Republic of the 
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Philippines may extend the services of the Commissioners and Labor 
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Arbiters up to the maximum age of seventy (70) years upon the 
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recommendation of the Commission en bane. 
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The Chairman, the Division Presiding Commissioners and other 
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Commissioners shall all be appointed by the President. Appointment to 
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any vacancy in a specific division shall come only from the 
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predecessor. The Labor Arbiters shall also be apPointed by the 
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President, upon the recommendation of the Commission en bane [to a 
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specific arbitration branch preferably in the region where they are 
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residents], and shall be subject to Civil Service Law, rules and 
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regulations [:Provided, That the Labor Arbiters who are presently 
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holding office in the region where they are residents shall be deemed 
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appointed thereat]. 
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The Chairman of the Commission shall appoint the staff and 
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employees of the Commission and its regional branches as the needs 
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of the service may require, subject to the Civil Service Law, rules and 
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regulations, and upgrade their current salaries, benefits and other 
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emoluments in accordance with law. 
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SEC. 3. 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 not otherwise affected 
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shall remain valid and subsisting. 
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SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, orders, issuances, rules 
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and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
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repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) newspapers of national 
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circulation. 
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Approved, 
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