Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Local laws recognize the crucial role of our labor force and the necessity to protect 
them. Section 18, Article II of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State affirms 
labor as a primary social-economic force. It also declares that the State shall protect 
the rights of workers and promote their welfare. In addition, Section 3 of Article XIII 
further provides that the State shall afford full protection to labor, local and overseas, 
organized and unorganized, and promote full employment and equality of 
employment opportunities for all. 
Further, Presidential Decree No. 442, or the Labor Code was enacted in 1974 to 
revise and consolidate all labor and social laws to afford protection to labor and 
promote employment, and human resources development in the country. It was 
subsequently amended by laws addressed to meet the special and peculiar needs of 
various classes of workers under different conditions. 
The bill seeks to complement these laws in seeking to (a) provide support to traveling 
sales crews including housing, and transportation, among others, (b) require the 
employers for such workers to register under this Act, and (c) ensure necessary 
protections for such employees. Given the peculiar nature of their work, this measure 
will be instrumental in assuring the welfare of traveling sales crews in the country.  
In view of the foregoing, approval of the bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
September 28, 2023
1:05 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
TO PROTECT EMPLOYEES OF TRAVELING SALES CREWS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Traveling Sales Crews 
Protection Act”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State shall afford protection to labor, 
promote full employment, and equality of employment opportunities for all. 
SECTION 3.  Definition of Terms. – For the purpose of this Act, the term: 
a.
“Certificate of registration” means a Certificate issued by the Secretary under
Section 4.
b.
“Employ” means to suffer or to permit to work.
c.
“Goods” means wares, products, commodities, merchandise, or articles or
subjects of interstate commerce of any character, or any part or ingredient of the
same.
d.
“Person” means any individual partnership, association, joint stock company,
trust, cooperative, or corporation.
e.
“Sale” or “sell” include any sale, exchange, contract to sell, consignment for sale,
shipment for sale, or other disposition of goods.
f.
“Secretary” means secretary of Labor and Employment; and
g.
“Traveling sales crew worker” means an individual who –
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(1)
Is employed as a salesperson or in related support work;
(2)
Travels with a group of salespersons, including a supervisor; and
(3)
Is required to be absent overnight from his or her permanent place of
residence.
The term “Traveling Sales Crew Worker” does not include any individual who meets 
the requirements above if such individual is traveling to a trade show or convention, or 
any immediate family member of a traveling sales crew employer. 
SECTION 4. Registration of Employers and Supervisors of Traveling Sales Crew 
Workers. – 
a.
Registration Requirement. –
(1)
In General. – No person shall engage in any form of employment of traveling
sales crew workers, unless such person has a certificate of registration from
the Secretary.
(2)
Supervision. – A traveling sales crew employer shall not hire, employ, or use
any individual as a supervisor of a traveling sales crew, unless such individual
has a certificate of registration from the Secretary.
(3)
Display of Certificate of Registration. – Each traveling sales crew employer
and each registered traveling sales crew supervisor shall carry at all times
while engaging in traveling sales crew activities a certificate of registration
from the Secretary and, upon request, shall exhibit that certificate to all
persons with whom they intend to deal.
b.
Application for Registration. – Any person desiring to be issued a certificate of
registration from the Secretary, as either a traveling sales crew employer or traveling 
sales crew supervisor, shall file with the Secretary a written application that contains 
the following: 
(1)
A declaration, subscribed and sworn by the applicant, stating the applicant’s
permanent place of residence, the type or types of sales activities to be
performed, and such other relevant information as the Secretary may require.
(2)
A statement identifying each vehicle to be used to transport any member of
any traveling sales crew and, if the vehicle is or to be owned and controlled by
the applicant, documentation showing that the applicant is in compliance with


 
 
the requirements with respect to each such vehicle.  
(3) 
A statement identifying, with as much specificity as the Secretary may require, 
each facility or real property to be used to house any member of any traveling 
sales crew and, if the facility or real property is or will be owned or controlled 
by the applicant, documentation showing that the applicant is in compliance 
with respect to each such facility or real property.  
(4) 
A set of fingerprints of the applicant. 
 
c. 
Issuance of Certificate of Registration. –  
(1) 
In General. – In accordance with regulations, and after any investigation 
which the Secretary may deem appropriate, the Secretary shall issue a crew 
supervisor to any person who meets the standards for such registration.  
(2) 
Refusal to Issue or Renew; Suspension and Revocation. – The Secretary 
may refuse to issue or renew, or may suspend or revoke, a Certificate of 
Registration if the applicant for or holder of the Certificate –  
(a) 
Has knowingly made any misrepresentation in the application for such 
Certificate of Registration;   
(b) 
Is not the real party in interest with respect to the application of Certificate 
of Registration and the real party in interest is a person who–       
(i) 
Has been refused issuance or renewal of Certificate; 
(ii) 
Has had a Certificate suspended or revoked; or  
(iii) Does not qualify for a Certificate under this section; 
(c) 
Has failed to comply with this title or any regulation promulgated under this 
title;  
(d) 
Has failed to pay any court judgment obtained by the Secretary or any 
other person under this title or any regulation promulgated under this title; 
or to comply with any final order issued by the Secretary as a result of a 
violation of this title or any regulation promulgated under this title; 
(e) 
Has been convicted within the five (5) years preceding the date on which 
the application was filed, or the Certificate was issued, of any crime relating 
to the sale, distribution or possession of unlawful objects, in connection 
with or incident to any traveling crew activities; or  
(f) 
Has failed to satisfy any other requirement which the Secretary may by 
regulation establish. 


 
 
 
d. 
Administrative Proceedings and Judicial Review. – 
(1) 
In General. – A person who is refused the issuance or renewal of a Certificate 
of Registration, or whose Certificate of Registration is suspended or revoked, 
shall be afforded an opportunity for an agency hearing, upon a request made 
within thirty (30) days after the date of issuance of the notice of refusal, 
suspension, or revocation.  If no hearing is requested as provided for in this 
subsection, the refusal, suspension, or revocation shall constitute a final and 
unappealable order.   
(2) 
Review. – Any person against whom an order has been entered after an 
agency hearing under this subsection may obtain review pursuant to the 
implementing rules and regulations. 
 
e. 
Transfer or Assignment of Certificate; Expiration; Renewal. –  
(1) 
Transfer or Assignment. – A Certificate of Registration may not be transferred 
or assigned.  
(2) 
Expiration. – Unless earlier suspended or revoked, a Certificate of 
Registration shall expire twelve (12) months from the date of issuance. 
(3) 
Extension. – A Certificate of Registration may be temporarily extended, at the 
Secretary’s discretion, by a filing of an application with the Secretary at least 
thirty (30) days prior to the Certificate’s expiration date.  
(4) 
Renewal. – A Certificate of Registration may be renewed through the 
application process provided for in subparagraphs (2) and (3). 
 
f. 
Notice of Address Change, Amendment of Certificate of Registration. – During 
the period for which a Certificate of Registration is in effect, the traveling sales crew 
employer or supervisor named on the Certificate shall – 
(1) 
Provide to the Secretary within thirty (30) days a notice of each change of 
permanent place of residence; and  
(2) 
Apply to the Secretary to amend the Certificate of Registration whenever the 
person intends to – 
(a) 
Engage in any form of traveling sales crew activity not identified on the 
Certificate;  
(b) 
Use or cause to be used any vehicle not covered by the Certificate to 


 
 
transport any traveling sales crew worker; or  
(c) 
Use or cause to be used any facility or real property not covered by the 
Certificate to house any traveling sales crew worker. 
 
g. 
Filing Fee. – The Secretary shall require the payment of a fee by an employer 
filing an application for the issuance or renewal of a Certificate of Registration. Sums 
collected pursuant to this section shall be applied by the Secretary toward 
reimbursement of the costs of administering the title. 
 
SECTION 5. Obligations of Employees of Traveling Sales Crew Workers. –  
(A)  Disclosure of Terms and Conditions of Employment. – 
(1) 
Written Disclosure. – At   the time of recruitment, each traveling sales crew 
worker shall be provided with a written disclosure of the following information, 
which shall be accurate and complete to the best of the employer’s 
knowledge: 
(a) 
 The people or places of employment, stated with as much specificity as 
possible;  
(b)  The wage rate or rates to be paid;  
(c)  The type or types of work on which the worker may be employed;  
(d)  The period of employment;  
(e)  The transportation, housing, and any other employee benefit to be provided, 
and any costs to be charged to the worker for each such benefit;  
(f)  The existence of any strike or other concerted work stoppage, slowdown, or 
interruption of operations by employees at the place of employment;  
(g)  Whether workers’ compensation insurance is provided and, if so, the name 
of the workers’ compensation insurance carrier, the name of the 
policyholder of such insurance, the name and the telephone number of 
each person who must be notified by an injury or death, and the time 
period within such notice must be given. 
(2) 
Records and Statements. – Each employer of traveling sales crew workers 
shall -  
(a) 
With respect to each such worker, make, keep, and preserve records for 
three (3) years of the basis on which wages are paid; number of piecework 
units earned, if paid on a piecework basis; number of hours worked; total 


 
 
pay period earnings; specific sums withheld, and the purpose of each sum 
withheld; and net pay; and 
(b) 
Provide to each worker on a monthly basis, an itemized written statement 
of the information required under subparagraph (1).  
 
(B) Payment of Wages When Due. – Each traveling sales crew worker shall be paid 
the wages owed to that worker when due.  
 
(C) Costs of Goods, Services, and Business Expenses. –  
(1) 
Prohibition. – No employer or traveling sales crew workers shall -   
(a) 
Require any worker to purchase any goods or services solely from such 
employer; or  
(b) 
Impose on any worker any of the employer’s business expenses, such as 
the costs of maintaining and operating a vehicle used to transport the 
traveling sales crew. 
(2) 
Inclusion as Part of Wages. – An employer may include as part of the wages 
paid to traveling sales crew worker the reasonable cost to the employer of 
furnishing board, lodging, or other facilities to such worker, so long as –  
(a) 
Such facilities are customarily furnished by such employer to the 
employees of the employer; and  
(b) 
Such cost does not exceed the fair market value of such facility and does 
not include any profit to the employer. 
 
(D) Safety and Health in Transportation. -  
(1) 
Standards. – An employer of traveling sales crew worker shall provide 
transportation for such workers in a manner that is consistent with the 
following standards: 
(a) 
The employer shall ensure that each vehicle which the employer uses or 
causes to be used for such transportation conforms to the standards 
prescribed by the Secretary under paragraph (B) and conforms to the other 
applicable safety standards.  
(b) 
The employer shall ensure that each driver of each such vehicle has a 
valid and appropriate license, as provided by law, to operate the vehicle.  
(c) 
The employer shall have an insurance policy. 


 
 
(2) 
Promulgation by Secretary. – The Secretary shall prescribe, by regulation, 
such safely and health hazards as may be appropriated for vehicles used to 
transport traveling sales crew workers.  In establishing such standards, the 
Secretary shall consider – 
(a) 
The type of vehicle used; 
(b) 
The passenger capacity of the vehicle;  
(c) 
The distance which such workers will be carried by such vehicle;  
(d) 
The type of roads and highways on which such workers will be carried in 
the vehicle;  
(e) 
The extent to which a proposed standard would cause an undue burden on 
an employer of traveling sales crew workers; and 
(f) 
Any standard prescribed by the Secretary of Transportation. 
 
(E) Safety and Health in Housing. – An employer of traveling sales crew workers 
shall provide housing for such workers in a manner that is consistent with the 
following standards:  
(1) 
If the employer owns or controls the facility or real property which is used for 
housing traveling sales crew workers, the employer shall be responsible for 
ensuring that the facility or real property complies with substantive safety and 
health standards applicable to that housing. Prior to occupancy by such 
workers, the facility or real property shall be certified by a local health 
authority or other appropriate agency as meeting applicable safety and health 
standards. Written notice shall be posted in the facility or real property, prior to 
and throughout the occupancy by such workers, informing such workers that 
the applicable safety and health standards are met.  
(2) 
If the employer does not own or control the facility or real property which is 
used for housing traveling sales crew workers, the employer shall be 
responsible for ensuring that the owner or operator of such facility or real 
property complies with substantive safety and health standards applicable to 
that housing. Such assurance by the employer shall include the verification 
that the owner or operator of such facility or real property is licensed and 
insured in accordance with all applicable State and local laws.  The 
employer shall obtain such assurance prior to housing any workers in the 
facility or real property. 


 
 
 
(F) 
Insurance of Vehicles. – An employer of traveling sales crew workers shall 
ensure that there is in effect, for each vehicle used to transport such workers, an 
insurance policy or a liability bond which insures the employer against liability for 
damage to persons and property arising from the ownership, operation, or the causing 
to be operated of such vehicle for such purpose.  The level of insurance or liability 
bond required shall be determined by the Secretary considering at least the factors 
set forth in paragraph (D)(2) of this section and any relevant law. 
 
SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Secretary of Labor and 
Employment, in coordination with other government agencies, non-governmental 
organizations or labor associations shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of 
this Act, issue such rules and regulations necessary for its proper implementation. 
 
SECTION 7. Penalties. – Any person, corporation, trust, firm, partnership, 
association or entity found violating this Act shall be punished by a fine not exceeding 
Twenty Five Thousand Pesos (P25,000.00) or imprisonment of not less that thirty (30) 
days nor more than six (6) months, or both such fine and imprisonment at the 
discretion of the court. 
 
If the violation is committed by a corporation, trust or firm, partnership, association or 
any other entity, the penalty of imprisonment shall be imposed on the entity’s 
responsible officers, including, but not limited to, the president, vice-president or 
executive officer, general manager, managing director or the partner directly 
responsible. 
 
SECTION 8. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting.   
 
SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. – Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, 
or inconsistent with, the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 


 
 
 
Section 10. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,