Fifteenth Congress of the Republic 
of the Philippines 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
....... Of THf,ECMTMI'I 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 1977 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Although women now have political rights in all but a few countries of the world, and 
are, therefore, in a better position to become more active agents of change, their subordinate 
position in many other fields has delayed progress. (Whittick, Arnold Woman Into Citizen 1979.) 
The history of every nation bears witness to the changes that have gradually taken place 
in the situation of woman at the local and national level, even at the international level. We have 
witnessed the development of wider possibilities for education and training, better access to 
economic opportunities, improve maternal and child health care and other social services, 
changes in civil laws and gradual changes in attitude towards women in general. 
Their contributions to solving problems not only in their respective households but also 
in their workplace are more and more vital. Women should assume their responsibility as one of 
their prioritie&. This would finally make them equals as decision makers in local and national 
affairs. This could give them an opportunity not only to improve their own situation but also 
share with men the responsibility in the affairs of society. 
However, in the Philippines today, and even with the worldwide emancipation of women 
in society, discrimination against women generally still exists in the ordinary workplace. Filipino 
women continue to suffer indignities in the course of their employment, merely because they are 
women. While our Constitutional policy is clear - Section 14, Article 11 of the Constitution 
requires the State to recognize the role of women in nation-building and to ensure the 
fundamental equality before the law of women - enabling legislation to fully carry out this 
mandate, is lacking. 
This bill 'penalizes the employer who will give preference to a male employee over a 
female employee in the hiring process, whether through notices or advertisements for 
employment or in the actual recruitment, hiring or employment of porkers where the particular 
job can be equally handled by a woman. 
Also, it prohibits the denial to any women the benefits of employment or other statutory 
benefits under our laws by reason of her sex. 
Gone are the days when women were considered to be the weaker sex, according to a 
recent study by Time magazine. We must not only recognize that women have an important role 
in. nation building, but also realize that their position in society is eminent, integral and 
indispensable. 
This humble representation urges the immediate passage of this bill. 


Fifteenth Congress of the Republic 
of the Philippines 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. i9?? 
11 
"tl~ AlG:n 
~"'-F 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
AN ACT 
EXPANDING THE PROHIBITED ACTS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST 
WOMEN ON ACCOUNT OF SEX, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
ARTICLES 135 AND 137 OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 442, AS 
AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LABOR CODE OF THE 
PHILIPPINES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Article 136 of Presidential Decree No. 442, as amended otherwise known 
as the Labor Code of the Philippines, is hereby further amended to read as follows: 
"ART. 136. DISCRIMINATION PROHIDITED - It shall be unlawful for 
any employer to discriminate against any woman employee with respect to terms 
and conditions of employment solely on account of her sex. 
The following are acts of discrimination: 
(a) Payment of a lesser compensation, including wage, salary or other 
form of remuneration and fringe benefits, to a female employee as against a male 
employee, for work of equal value; [and] 
(b) Favoring a male employee over a female employee with respect to 
promotion, ASSIGNMENT, training opportunities, study and scholarship grants 
solely on account of their sexes [.]; AND 
(C) GIVING PREFERENCE TO A MALE EMPLOYEE OVER A FEMALE 
EMPLOYEE IN THE HIRING PROCESS, WHETHER THROUGH 
NOTICES, 
ANNOUNCEMENTS, 
OR 
ADVERTISEMENTS 
FOR 
EMPLOYMENT AND APPRENTICESHIP OR IN THE ACTUAL 
RECRUITMENT, HIRING OR EMPLOYMENT OF WORKERS WHERE 
TH~ PARTICULAR JOB CAN BE EQUALLY HANDLED BY A WOMAN, 
AND 
(D) FAVORING A MALE EMPLOYEE OVER A FEMALE EMPLOYEE 
WITH 
RESPECT 
TO 
DISMISSAL 
OF 
PERSONNEL OR THE 
APPLICATION OF THE FIRST IN -
FIRST OUT OR OTHER 
RETRENCHMENT POLICY OF THE EMPLOYER". 
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pursuant to Section 2 hereof shall be penalized as provided in Articles 288 and 
289 of this Code: Provided, That the institution of any criminal action under this 
provision shall not bar the aggrieved employee from filing an entirely separate 
and distinct action for money claims, which may include claims for damages and 
other affirmative relief. 
The actions hereby authorized shall proceed 
independently of each other. " 
SECTION 2. Article 137 of the Labor Code is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"ART. 137. PROHIBITED ACTS - (a) It shall be unlawful for any employer: 
(1) To deny any woman employee the benefits provided for in this Chapter 
or to discharge any woman employed by him for the purpose of preventing her 
from enjoying any of the benefits provided under this Code: 
(2) To discharge such woman on account of her pregnancy, or while on 
leave or in confinement due to her pregnancy; 
(3) To discharge or refuse the admission of such woman upon returning to 
her work for fear that she may again be pregnant [.J; OR 
(4) TO DENY ANY WOMAN THE BENEFITS OF EMPLOYMENT OR 
OTHER STATUTORY BENEFITS UNDER OUR LAWS BY REASON OF 
HER GENDER." 
SECTION 3. Penalties. - Any employer who commits or attempts in any manner to 
commit any of the acts herein prohibited shall, in addition to other penalties as may be provided 
by law, upon conviction hereof, be punished by a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos 
(P50,000.00), but not more than Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,000.00), and suffer 
imprisonment of not less than two (2) years but not more than four (4) years: Provided, That the 
conviction or acquittal obtained by the employer shall not be a bar to the· filing by the female 
employee of a civil suit for the payment of salaries or benefits due her. 
Any employee or person who willfully aids or abets in the commission of the acts 
prohibited herein or who causes the commission of any such acts by another shall be liable in the 
same manner as the employer. 
If the offender is not a Filipino citizen, he shall be deported immediately upon service of 
the sentence imposed herein. If he is a government official or employee, he shall be dismissed 
from the service and shall serve the maximum penalty prescribed for the offense. 
In the case of associations, partnerships or corporations, the penalty shall be imposed on 
the partner, president, general manager, branch manager or responsible officer responsible for 
the violation. 
SECTION 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within thirty (30) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Labor and Employment, consultation with the Tripartite 
Industrial Peace Council, shall issue and publish the necessary rules and regulations to 
implement the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If any prOVlSlon of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions 
hereof 
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SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, 
presidential proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions 
of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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