Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ______  
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Hon. Christopher V.P. de Venecia 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT PROVIDING PROTECTION AND INCENTIVES FOR FREELANCE 
WORKERS  
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Freelancing is slowly becoming a way of life in the Philippines, especially in the advent 
of the internet and online freelance job portals. In freelance worker.com alone, an online platform 
for freelancing jobs and crowdsourcing marketplace for entrepreneurs, there is an estimated 
800,000 Filipino users. Majority of our artists – actors, writers, singers, dancers, composers, 
directors – are also freelance workers due to the nature of their jobs.   
In fact, more and more freelance workers are becoming “multi-hyphenates,” or persons 
with hyphenated professions, e.g. singer-songwriter, actor-director, because of the competitive 
nature of freelance jobs and the higher cost of living. Another factor adding to the multi hyphenate 
freelance phenomenon is the entry of millennials into the workforce. According to an article 
published by Time Magazine, millennials are those born from 1980 to 2000; when they were born, 
technology was already available. Growing up with access to so many things have, it seems, made 
them want to be everything at the same time; however, it is the same access that gives them the 
confident entrepreneurial spirit to pursue their passions fearlessly. Thus, they cannot be 
constrained by traditional labels and don’t relate to traditional systems of employment.  
One of the biggest drawbacks of a Filipino freelance worker is the non-payment for 
services rendered. More often than not, the freelance worker does not pursue any course of action 
to demand payment for lack of remedial channels, fear of retribution, or lack of resources to 
pursue legal action.  
Furthermore, many freelance workers are not registered with the Bureau of Internal 
Revenue.  It is important to account for this income-generating sector so that they may contribute 
to the country’s tax revenue. Likewise, in light of dangerous circumstances confronted by some 
freelance workers, it is imperative that freelance workers be provided adequate mandatory hazard 
pay.  
July 1, 2022
8:00 am
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This measure aims to promote the safety and well-being of freelance workers, specifically, 
by mandating the provision of mandatory hazard pay and night shift differential pay. The bill 
further gives freelance workers the power to demand payment for services rendered through 
several legal channels, impose civil penalties on unscrupulous hiring parties, and criminalize non-
payment of compensation of freelance workers.  
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
REP. CHRISTOPHER V.P. DE VENECIA 
Fourth District, Pangasinan 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ______  
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Hon. Christopher V.P. de Venecia 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT PROVIDING PROTECTION AND INCENTIVES FOR FREELANCE 
WORKERS  
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:  
CHAPTER I  
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Freelance Workers 
Protection Act.”  
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – Pursuant to Article II, Section 18, and Article XIII, 
Section 3 of the Constitution, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to protect the rights of 
workers, promote their welfare, and ensure their entitlement to humane conditions of work and 
just share in the fruits of production. Towards this end, the State shall recognize the right of 
freelance workers to protection from late or nonpayment of fees for services rendered 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
a) Freelance worker refers to any natural person or entity composed of no more
than one (1) natural person, whether incorporated under the Securities and
Exchange Commission, registered as a sole proprietorship under the Department
of Trade and Industry (DTI) or registered as self-employed with the Bureau of
Internal Revenue (BIR), who is hired or retained to provide services, in exchange
for compensation, as an independent contractor to do work according to one’s
own methods and without being subjected to the control of the hiring party,
except only as to the results of the work;
b) Hiring party refers to any person or entity that obtains or retains the services
of a freelance worker; and
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c) Retaliation refers to any act reasonably likely to prevent a freelance worker 
from further being offered freelance work and contracts.  
SEC. 4. Written Contract. – Any hiring party obtaining or retaining the services of a 
freelance worker shall execute a written contract with such freelance worker before said services 
are rendered. The hiring party and the freelance worker shall each retain a signed copy of the 
contract. 
The contract shall be written in plain language, understood by both parties. It shall include, 
at the minimum, the following:  
(a) Itemization of all services to be provided by the freelance worker;  
(b) Details of compensation and other worker’s benefits, including rate, method and 
schedule of payment; 
(c) Period of employment; 
(d) Grounds for breach of contract on the part of the hiring party   
and of the freelance worker; 
 
(e) Tax identification number of the freelance worker; and 
 
(f) Any other condition, term or clause that the Department of Labor and Employment 
(DOLE) may direct, subject to the provisions of this Act.  
No modification of the terms of the contract shall be enforceable unless signed by both 
the hiring party and the freelance worker.  
SEC. 5. Night Shift Differential. – Freelance workers who are required to be physically 
present in the workplace, or those on field assignments, shall be paid a night shift differential of 
not less than ten percent (10%) of his or her regular compensation for each hour of work 
performed between ten o’clock in the evening and six o’clock in the morning, unless there is a 
more favorable fee stipulated in the contract.  
SEC. 6. Hazard Pay. – All freelance workers deployed in dangerous areas such as strife-
torn or embattled locations, distressed or isolated stations, prison camps, mental hospitals, 
radiation-exposed clinic, laboratories or disease-infested areas, or in areas declared under a state 
of calamity or emergency for the duration of deployment and unduly exposes them to great 
danger, contagion, radiation, occupational risks or perils to life, shall be compensated with a 
hazard pay equivalent to at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the total payment for the period of 
such deployment as agreed upon in the contract, unless there is a more favorable fee stipulated 
therein. 
 
SEC. 7. Unlawful Practices. – It shall be unlawful for any hiring party to:  


a) Pay the compensation due the freelance worker later than fifteen (15) days 
after the date of payment of compensation stated in the written contract or after 
the rendition of services in cases where there is no written contract;   
b) Require as a condition of payment of compensation, at any time after a 
freelance worker has commenced rendition of services, that a freelance worker 
accept less than the specified contract price; or 
c) Commit any acts of retaliation against any freelance worker for:  
i.) Opposing any practice prohibited by this Act;   
ii.) Filing a complaint authorized under this Act;  
iii.) Testifying or assisting in any proceeding authorized under this Act;  
iv.) Commencing a civil action alleging a violation of this Act;  
v.) Assisting the DOLE in an investigation commenced pursuant to this 
Act; or  
vi.) Providing information to the DOLE pursuant to the terms of a mediation 
or conciliation agreement under this Act.  
SEC. 8. Civil Penalty. – A person who commits any of the unlawful practices enumerated 
in Section 7 of this Act shall be punished by a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos 
(Php50,000.00) but not more than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php500,000.00) 
CHAPTER II  
AGENCY ENFORCEMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS  
SEC. 9. Complaints. – Any person or such person’s authorized representative aggrieved 
by a violation of this Act, may file a complaint with the DOLE, through the Undersecretary for 
Workers with Special Concerns, without prejudice to the filing of civil action in appropriate cases. 
SEC. 10. Prohibition Against Forum Shopping. – When a civil action has been initiated 
in a court of competent jurisdiction arising from any violation of this Act, a breach of contract, or 
any similar claim at law or equity arising out of the same transaction or series of transactions, 
no other case involving the same cause of action shall be filed with the DOLE.   
SEC. 11. Investigation. – Upon receiving a complaint alleging a violation of this Act, the 
Department shall notify the respondent in writing and investigate such complaint in a timely 
manner. Within fifteen (15) calendar days of receiving such written notification, the respondent 
shall provide the DOLE with a written response and such other information as the DOLE may 


request. The DOLE shall notify each complainant in writing, not less than thirty (30) calendar 
days after the complaint is filed, of the status of the complaint and any resulting investigation.  
SEC. 12. Mediation and Conciliation. – The DOLE may, at any time after the filing of a 
complaint, attempt to resolve the complaint by any method of dispute resolution, including 
mediation and conciliation. If a conciliation agreement is entered into, the DOLE shall embody 
such agreement in an order and serve a copy thereof upon all parties to the conciliation 
agreement.   
 
CHAPTER III 
CIVIL ENFORCEMENT 
SEC. 13. Notice of Violation and Order of Payment. – If, as a result of an investigation 
of a complaint or an investigation conducted upon its own initiative, the DOLE finds cause to 
believe that a violation of this Act has occurred, it shall issue a notice of violation to the 
respondent and order the corresponding payment of compensation due to the prevailing party.  
SEC. 14. Violation of Order of Payment. – The order of payment shall include an interest 
rate of six percent (6%) per annum which shall be awarded to the prevailing party in case the 
violation continues. 
SEC. 15. Civil Action. – Except as otherwise provided by law, any person claiming to be 
aggrieved by a violation of this Act has a cause of action to file a complaint in a court of competent 
jurisdiction for damages, injunctive relief and such other remedies as may be appropriate, without 
prejudice to the filing of a criminal action in appropriate cases. The prevailing party shall be 
entitled to an award of reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.   
No person claiming to be aggrieved by a violation of this Act may bring a civil action in 
a court of competent jurisdiction if such aggrieved person, or one’s representative, has filed a 
complaint with the DOLE pursuant to Chapter II of this Act and based upon the same transaction 
or series of transactions, unless that complaint has been terminated without prejudice to a 
subsequent civil action. 
SEC. 16. Non-Waiver. – Except as otherwise provided by law, any provision of any 
contract or agreement purporting to waive rights under this Act is against public policy and shall 
be null and void 
SEC. 17. Coverage. – This Act shall apply only to contracts or agreements entered into 
upon the effectivity of this Act.  
CHAPTER IV  
TAXATION  
SEC. 18. Taxpayer Registration. – All freelance workers as defined under this Act shall 
register with the BIR.   


SEC. 19. Filing and Payment. – Except as otherwise provided by law, all freelance 
workers must pay their income taxes annually.  
Freelancers, as defined under this Act, shall be entitled to tax relief within the threshold 
provided under Republic Act No. 10963, otherwise known as the “Tax Reform for Acceleration 
and Inclusion Act”, and Republic Act No. 9178, otherwise known as the “Barangay Micro 
Business Enterprises (BMBEs) Act of 2002.” 
SEC. 20. Taxpayer Service. – Every BIR Revenue District Office shall designate a lane 
or a special assistance desk dedicated to freelance workers that shall be manned by an officer who 
shall assist freelance workers in the registration and processing of documents and other inquiries.   
 
CHAPTER V 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
SEC. 21. Report. –  One (1) year after the effectivity of this Act, and every year thereafter, 
the Secretary of Labor and Employment shall submit a report to the Committees on Labor and 
Employment of the Senate of the Philippines and the House of Representatives regarding the 
effectiveness of the provisions of this Act at improving freelance contracting and payment 
practices. The report shall include, at the minimum, the number of complaints received, 
investigations initiated and notices issued by the DOLE on violations of this Act, and complains 
settled by mediation or conciliation. 
SEC. 22. Information Campaign. – The DOLE, in coordination with the DTI, BIR, local 
government units and other relevant agencies, shall initiate a program with the objective of 
informing freelance workers of their rights and obligations, the proper procedure of registering as 
a taxpayer, and the modes of legal redress as provided for in this Act, and in other laws and 
regulations. 
SEC. 23. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within fifteen (15) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Labor and Employment shall, in coordination with the 
BIR and other relevant agencies, issue the necessary rules and regulations from the 
implementation of this Act.  
SEC. 24. Separability Clause. – If any part, section or provision of this Act is declared 
invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by such declaration shall remain in 
full force and effect 
SEC. 25. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations, or others 
issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, 
amended or modified accordingly.  
SEC. 26. Effectivity. – This Act shall after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a 
newspaper of general circulation.  
Approved,