Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A JOB TRAINING PROGRAM FOR MATURE 
OR OLDER WORKERS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article XIII Section 3 of the 1087 Philippine Constitution provides: 
“The State shall afford Jull protection to labor, 
local and overseas, organized and unorganized, 
and promote full employment and equality of 
employment opportunities for all." 
In recognition of this, the 16th Congress of the Republic of the 
Philippines pushed for the enactment of Republic Act No. 10911, otherwise 
known as the "Anti-Age Discrimination Employment Act." This law aims to 
prohibit arbitrary age limitations in employment and promote employment of 
individuals on the basis of competencies rather than their age. Despite this 
development, many workers who are 18 years, old and above still find it 
difficult to secure employment due to the lack of skills and increased 
competition in the job market. 
This bill seeks to provide mature or older workers with the 
necessary educational and occupational skills to improve their employability 
and productivity. Under this proposal, the Department of Labor and 
Employment is directed to develop a job training program designed for 
employees above 40 years of age and the demands of the job market. 
July 8, 2022
11:24 am
1635


It is the hope of this measure to empower mature employees to be 
able to compete with their young, fresh-out-of-school counterparts, thus 
giving them an opportunity to contribute to the labor force and better 
themselves and their families. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
REP. PM VARGAS   
Fifth District, Quezon City 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A JOB TRAINING PROGRAM FOR MATURE 
OR OLDER WORKERS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the "Mature and Older 
Workers Act." 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to afford full 
protection to labor, local and overseas, organized and unorganized and 
promote employment and equality of employment opportunities for all. 
Towards this end, the State shall establish, maintain, and support a training 
program that will equip mature and older workers with the educational and 
occupational skills that will improve their employability and productivity. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the term: 
a) Basic Skills Deficient means with respect to an individual, that the
individual has English reading or computing skills at or below the 8th
grade level on a generally accepted standardized test or a comparable
score on a criterion referenced test;
b) Case Management means the provision, in the delivery of a service, of a
client centered approach designed to:
1635


1) Prepare and coordinate a comprehensive employment plan, such 
as a service strategy, for a participant to ensure access to a 
necessary training and support service; and 
2) Provide job and career counseling during program participation 
and after job placement. 
 
c) Educational Agency means: 
1) A public local school authority having administrative control of 
elementary, middle or secondary schools or providing adult 
educations; 
2) A public or institution that provides alternative middle or high 
school education; 
3) A public education institution or agency having administrative 
control of secondary or post-secondary vocational education 
programs; or 
4) Post-secondary institution 
 
d) Mature or Older Worker means an individual who is 40 years of age or 
older. 
 
e) Participant means an individual who has been determined to be eligible 
to participate in the program; 
 
f) School Dropout means an individual who is no longer attending any 
school and who has not received a secondary school diploma or a 
certificate from a program or equivalent for such a diploma; and 
 
g) Termination means the separation of a participant who is no longer 
receiving services. 
 
SECTION 4. Eligibility for Services - An individual shall be eligible to 
participate in the program assisted under this part if such individual is forty 
(40) years of age or older and is included in one or more of the following 
categories: 
 
a) Individuals whose income is not excess of the poverty line: 
b) Individuals who are eligible for housing assistance; or 
c)  Individuals who are included in two (2) or more of the following 
categories: 
 


1) Individuals who are unemployed for 15 consecutive weeks; 
 
2) Individuals who are unemployed for 30 consecutive weeks; 
 
3) Individuals who are working 20 or fewer hours a week; 
 
4) Individuals who are displaced homemakers; 
 
5) Individuals who are homeless; 
 
6) Individuals who have finished less than 10 years of school; 
 
7) Individuals who are deficient in basic skills; 
 
8) Individuals who have been notified that the jobs of such; 
 
9) Individuals will be terminated within the next 60 days; or  
 
10) Individuals who live alone. 
 
SECTION 5. Service Providers. – Each service providers shall ensure that an 
eligible applicant who does not meet the enrollment requirements of the 
particular program of the provider shall be referred to the service delivery area 
tor further assessment. as necessary, and referral to appropriate programs to 
meet the basic skills and training needs of the applicants. 
 
SECTION 6. Service Delivery Area. - The service delivery area shall ensure 
that appropriate referrals are made under Section 5 and shall maintain records 
on the referral and the reasons for which applicants are referred 
 
SECTION 7. Authorized Services. - One or more of the following training or 
supportive services shall be made available to each participant under this Act: 
 
a) Outreach and recruitment; 
b) Intake and assessment; 
c) lob search assistance; 
d) Classroom and occupational skills training; 
e) On-the-job training; 
f) Work experience; 
g) Basic and remedial education and literacy training; 


h) Supplemental services, including day care for dependent children and 
adults; 
i) Occupational placement assistance; 
 
SECTION 8. Special Rules. – 
 
a) Selection of Service Providers. – In the selection of service providers, 
the Department of Labor and Employment shall give preference to 
agencies 
and 
organizations 
with 
demonstrated 
competence 
in 
conducting older and mature worker programs. 
 
b) Job Training Plan. – The Department of Labor and Employment shall 
develop the job training program under this Act It may seek the 
assistance of other government agencies such as the Department of 
Education and the help of private educational agencies. It shall also 
formulate the necessary implementing rules and regulations that will 
ensure the efficient and effective implementation of this Act. 
 
SECTION 9. Report - The Secretary shall submit to the President of the 
Philippines and to both Houses of Congress, not later than the opening of the 
regular session each year, an annual report on the status of' the 
implementation of this Act. The annual report shall include an analysis, for 
each province and on a nationwide basis of the number of participants served 
under this Act, and the type of services under this Act received by participants. 
 
SECTION 10. 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 11. 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 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
 
Approved,