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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No._1478

Introduced by Representative Crispin Diego “Ping” D. Remulla

AN ACT
FURTHER STRENGTHENING WORKERS’ RIGHT TO SELF-ORGANIZATION,
AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE ARTICLES 240, 242, 243, 244, AND 285 OF
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 442, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LABOR CODE
OF THE PHILIPPINES, AS AMENDED

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This measure represents a decisive step toward strengthening the rights of Filipino
workers by aligning key provisions of the Labor Code, specifically Articles 234, 235, 236, and
237, with the principles enshrined in International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention No.
87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize, which the Philippines

ratified as early as 1953.

For decades, the ability of workers to form and join unions has been hampered by high
registration thresholds and complex requirements. This bill seeks to remove those barriers by
reducing the minimum membership requirement for registering independent unions from 20%
to 10%, and by lowering the number of local chapters required to form a federation from ten

to five.

‘The proposed reforms are a fulfillment of our long-standing international commitments.
More importantly, they affirm our belief that a just and democratic society must begin in the

workplace.


Now more than ever, we must ensure that Filipino workers are not left behind. By
making it easier for them to organize, we empower them to negotiate for fairer conditions,

better wages, and safer environments.

In light of this, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly requested.

CRISPIN DIEGO “PING” D. REMULLA


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Republic of the Phili
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _ 1473

Introduced by Representative Crispin Diego “Ping” D. Remulla

AN ACT
FURTHER STRENGTHENING WORKERS’ RIGHT TO SELF-ORGANIZATION,
AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE ARTICLES 240, 242, 243, 244, AND 285 OF
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 442, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LABOR CODE
OF THE PHILIPPINES, AS AMENDED

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of the Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
SECTION 1. Article 240(c) of the Labor Code, as amended by Republic Act 9481, is hereby
amended to read as follows:

“Art. 240. Requirements of Registration, ~ x x x

“XXX

“(c) In case the applicant is an independent union, the names of all

its members comprising at least [#wenty—pereent(20%)] TEN

PERCENT (10%) of all the employees in the bargaining unit where

it seeks to operate;

“Xxx”

SEC. 2. Article 242 of the Labor Code, as amended, is hereby renumbered as Article
236 and amended to read as follows:
“[Art-242-Acti ications. 1
seth istration-within-thirty-(3! s from filing}



1 “ART. 242. SUBMISSION AND ACTION ON APPLICATION,

2 — APPLICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION MAY BE

3 SUBM! 1D IN PERSON OR ONLINE TO THE

4 APPROPRIATE DOLE REGIONAL OFFICE OR FIELD

5 OFFICE OR THE BUREAU OF LABOR RELATIONS

6 SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION BY THE APPROPRIATE

7 OFFICE. THE BUREAU SHALL PRESCRIBE SUCH

8 FORMS AS MAY BE NECESSARY FOR THIS PURPOSE.

9 “THE BUREAU OR THE APPROPRIATE DOLE
10 REGIONAL OFFICE OR FIELD OFFICE SHALL ACT ON
1 ALL APPLICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION WITHIN FIVE
2 (5) CALENDAR DAYS FROM RECEIPT THEREOF.”

B SEC. 3. Article 243 of the Labor Code, as amended, is hereby amended to read as
14 follows:

15 “Art. 243. Denial of Registration; Appeal. — The decision of the
16 [Labor—Relations—Division—in_the—regional—office] DOLE
7 REGIONAL OFFICE OR FIELD OFFICE denying registration
18 may be appealed by the applicant union to the Bureau within ten
19 (10) days from receipt of notice thereof.”

20 SEC. 4. Article 244 of the Labor Code, as amended, is hereby amended to read as
21 ~~ follows:

2 “Art. 244, [Additional] Requirements for Federations or National
23 Unions. — [Subjeetto-Artiele 238,] [i]]f the applicant for registration
24 is a federation or a national union, it shall, in addition to the
25 requirements of the preceding Articles, submit the following:

26 “(a) Proof of affiliation of at least [ten-¢19}] FIVE (5) [leeals-or
7 chapters] LOCAL CHAPTERS, each of which must be duly
28 recognized collective bargaining agent in the establishment or
29 industry in which it operates [.supporting-the-registration-of sch
30 applicant federation-ornational-union]; and

31 “(b) The names and the addresses of the companies where the [leeals
32 or chapters] LOCAL CHAPTERS operate and the list of all the
33 members in each company involved.”


SEC. 5. Article 285, “Regulations of Foreign Assistance” of the Labor Code is hereby
repealed.

SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Secretary of Labor and
Employment shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions

of this Act.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause. — If any part, section or provision of this Act shall be
held invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by such declaration shall
remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, acts, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations or other issuances or parts thereof, which are consistent with this Act, are hereby
modified and repealed.

SEC. 9. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication

in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation.

Approved,