TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
Zb
-7 A 9 :29
SENATE 
S. No. 161
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES TO UNPAID CARE 
WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), more than 16 billion 
hours of unpaid care work are estimated to be undertaken daily. This is equivalent to 
9% of global gross domestic product or around 11 trillion US dollars per year.1 The 
latest evidence documented by the University of Oxford's Young Lives Study in its 
March 2025 Policy Brief shows that by age 29, women are doing over three times 
more unpaid care work than men, spending 4.5 to 5.3 work hours per day. Women 
and girls continue to do more unpaid care work than men and boys.2
In the recent EmpowerHer campaign by Oxfam Pilipinas, held last April 2025, 
it was emphasized that studies have pointed to women performing more and longer 
hours of care work as the cause of the decline in women's participation in the 
workforce.3
Women's unpaid work effectively fills the gaps from insufficient social services. 
At their own expense, they shoulder the cost of care that sustains both families and
1 Retrieved June 26, 2025 from: httDs://www.vounalives.ora.uk/sites/default/files/2025-04/YL- 
PolicvBrief-62-Apr25.pdf
2 Ibid.
3 Retrieved June 26, 2025 from: https://oxfam.ora.ph/empowerher-campaiqn-unpaid-care-work/
1


the broader economy of the Philippines. It is, however, concerning that despite the 
immense value of their contribution, at home and in society, the work unpaid care 
workers perform remains largely unrecognized as legitimate "work." As a result, they 
continue to be uncompensated with the time, effort and care they devote every day, 
day in and out, oniy to sustain their households and communities.
It is about time that the Philippines recognizes the critical role and importance 
of unpaid care workers in society by taking firm steps to identify and promote their 
rights and uphold their dignity and weil-being by providing concrete benefits through 
the outlined comprehensive package of social development and welfare services, 
benefits and privileges for unpaid care workers.
The bili also activates inter-agency partnerships through the leadership of the 
Department of Social Welfare and Development as a member of the Social 
Development Committee under the Economy and Deveiopment Council.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bili is earnestly sought.
GARDA


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No.
Zb JiJL -7 A 9 :29
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES TO UNPAID CARE 
WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Unpaid Care Workers
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Equity and Empov\ferment Act."
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote a just
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and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the
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nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social
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services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality
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of life for all.
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The State likewise values the dignity of every human person and recognizes
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the role of women in nation-building. Towards this end, the State shall ensure full
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respect for human rights and the fundamental equality of men and women in the eyes
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of the law.
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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall be
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defined as follows:
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(a) "Care work" consists of the following activities:
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(1) Direct, personal, and relational care activities, such as taking care
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of the children, tending to the elderly or persons with disabilities,
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nursing an ill member of the household; and/or
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(2) Indirect care activities, such as, among others, production of goods 
and services for the exclusive use of the household, domestic work 
like cleaning, cooking, and other household chores,
(b) "Unpaid care work" refers to care work provided by unpaid care workers 
for members of his or her household without monetary reward. Unpaid 
care work is still considered work and is thus a crucial dimension of the
world of work;
(c) "Unpaid care worker" (UCW) refers to any individual who performs
unpaid care work as defined in this Act;
(d) "Household" refers to the immediate members of the family or the 
occupants of the house who are directly and regularly provided services 
by the unpaid care worker;
(e) "Children" refer to those living with the unpaid care worker and 
dependent on him/her for support, who are single and unmarried, 
unemployed, and below eighteen (18) years of age, or those over 18 
years of age but are unable to fully take care of themselves or protect 
themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination 
because of a physical or mental disability or condition;
(f) "Disabled persons" refers to those suffering from the restriction of 
different abilities, a result of mental, physical, or sensory impairment, to 
perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal 
for a human being as provided by Republic Act No. 7277, as amended, 
otherwise known as the "Magna Carta for Disabied Persons, and
(g) "Parental responsibility" refers to the rights and duties of parents with 
respect to their children as defined in Article 220 of Executive Order No. 
209, as amended, otherwise known as the "Famiiy Code of the
Phiiippines."
Sec. 4. Criteria for Support. - Any person who possesses either of the following 
qualifications may avail of the benefits and privileges provided for under this Act:
(a) Any spouse living with the household, primarily performing unpaid care 
work as defined by this Act for at least 20 hours per week, and is:


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(1) At least eighteen (18) years of age but not more than sixty (60)
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years of age; and
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(2) Must have legally contracted marriage;
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(b) Any family member living with the household, and primarily performing
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unpaid care work as defined by this Act; or
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(c) Any individual living with the household, and primarily performing unpaid
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care work as defined by this Act.
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Employment, whether part-time or full-time, shall not disqualify these
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individuals from claiming benefits under this Act: Provided, further, That only one (1)
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individual may qualify as a UCW for every household.
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Sec. 5 Disqualifications -The following shall not be qualified to avail the benefits
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of this Act:
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(a) Individuals convicted by final judgment for an offense involving moral
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turpitude shall not be qualified;
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(b) A change in the status or circumstance of the UCW claiming benefits
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under this Act placing him or her outside the definition of a UCW shall
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terminate his or her eligibility for these benefits; and
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(C) Those receiving similar benefits as a Solo Parent or Senior Citizen.
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Sec. 6. Lead Implementing Agency - The Department of Social Welfare and
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Development (DSWD) shall serve as the lead implementing agency of this Act. In the
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exercise of this mandate, the DSWD shall:
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(a) Develop and implement policies, programs, and services under this Act
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and coordinate with the appropriate national government agencies and
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local government units;
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(b) Study the viability of creating a national registry of unpaid care workers,
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(c) Formulate policies and strategies for the implementation of this Act,
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which should be raised to and reviewed through the Social Development
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Committee under the Economy and Development Council under Republic
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Act No. 12145. For this purpose, the DSWD shall consult with the
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following:
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(a) Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) as the Vice-Chairperson,
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(b) Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA);


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(c) Commission on Human Rights (CHR);
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(d) Department of Health (DOH);
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(e) Department of Education (DepEd);
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(f) Commission on Higher Education (CHED);
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(g) Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA);
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(h) Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE);
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(i) Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); and
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(j) Department of Budget and Management.
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Sec. 7. Comprehensive Packege of Social Development and Welfare Services
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for Unpaid Care Workers. - A Comprehensive Package of Social Development and
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Welfare Services for UCWs, hereinafter referred to as the UCW Comprehensive
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Package, is hereby established for the benefit of qualified UCWs and their families.
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The DSWD, in partnership with the appropriate agencies, shall lead the
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implementation of the UCW Comprehensive Package, in coordination with LGUs, non-
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government organizations, people's organizations, and other key stakeholders. At the
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minimum, the package shall include:
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(a) Livelihood development services, including, but not limited to, training
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programs on livelihood skiils, basic business management, value
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orientation, and the provision of seed capital for self-employed UCWs or
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job placement in flexible work opportunities;
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(b) Counseling services, including, but not limited to, individual, peer group,
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or family counseling. This wili focus on conflict resolution in personal
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relationships;
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(c) Parent effectiveness services, including, but not limited to, the provision
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and expansion of knowledge and skills of the UCWs and the members
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of their households on early childhood development, behavior
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management, health care, and the rights and duties of parents and
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children;
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(d) Child and elderly care support services, including, but not limited to, the
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establishment of elderly care centers, breastfeeding centers, and day-
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care centers;


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(e) Critical incidence stress debriefing, including, but not limited to,
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preventive stress management strategies designed to assist UCWs in
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coping with crisis situations and cases of abuse; and
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(f) Special projects for individuals in need of protection, including, but not
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limited to, temporary shelter, counseling, legal assistance, medical care,
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self-concept or ego-building, crisis management, and spiritual
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enrichment.
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Sec. 8. Privileges for Unpaid Care Workers. - In consideration of the services
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by the qualified UCWs, they may avaii the following privileges, in addition to the
10 benefits herein provided:
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(a) UCWDiscount -The grant of twenty percent (20%) discount from all
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establishments reiative to the utiiization of transportation services,
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restaurants, and recreation centers, and purchase of medicine anywhere
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in the country: Provided, That the establishments may ciaim the
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discounts granted under this Section as a tax deduction based on the
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net cost of the goods sold or services rendered: Provided, further. That
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the cost of the discount shali be allowed as a deduction from gross
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income for the same taxabie year that the discount is granted: Provided,
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finally. That the totai amount of the daimed tax deduction net of vaiue-
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added tax, if applicable, shall be included in their gross sales receipts for
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tax purposes and shali be subject to proper documentation and to the
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provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended;
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(b) Prohibition Against Work Discrimination. - No employer shall
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discriminate against any UCW employee with respect to terms and
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conditions of employment on account of his or her status,
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(c) Flexible Work Schedule. -The employer shall provide for a flexible
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working schedule for UCWs: Provided, That the same shall not affect
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individual and company productivity: Provided, further. That any
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employer may request exemption from the above requirements from the
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DOLE on certain meritorious grounds;
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((j) UCW Leave. - In addition to leave privileges under existing laws, parental
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leave of not more than three (3) working days every year shall be


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granted to any UCW employee who has rendered service of at least one
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(1) year;
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(e) Educational Benefits. - DepEd, CHED, and TESDA shall provide the
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following benefits and priviieges:
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(1) Scholarship programs for qualified UCWs and the members of their
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household in institutions of basic, tertiary, and technical or skills
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education; and
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(2) Non-formal education programs appropriate for UCWs and the
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member of their household.
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(f) Medical Assistance. - DOH shall develop a comprehensive healthcare
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program for UCWs and their family. The program shall be implemented
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by DOH through their retained hospitals and medical centers and by
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LGUs through their respective local hospitals and/or health care centers;
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(g) Community Engagement - The LGUs, in coordination with non-
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government organizations, people's organizations, the private sector,
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and other stakeholders, shall conduct regular dialogues and information
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drives with the community to educate them on the importance of care
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WOrk and other gender issues. Through this multi-sectoral mechanism,
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UCWs can participate and put forth their needs for integration into the
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local government pandemic programming and management;
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(h) Gender and Development Information Drive. - PCW, in coordination with
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the CHR, shall lead the conduct of advocacy activities, gather input, and
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develop data on UCWs, in coordination with the PSA, thru the conduct
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of the Census of Population, dissemination of information, and education
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of communities in the recognition of UCW's importance in nation
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building. The PCW shall be guided by a model of three (3)
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interconnected dimensions to incorporate the issue of UCW into the
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development agenda, namely: (1) Recognition; (2) Reduction; and (3)
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Redistribution.
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Sec. 9. Care Work Education and Training Program. - The Council, together
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with DepEd for basic education, the CHED for State Universities and Colleges (SUCs),
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and TESDA for technical-vocational schools, shall establish a strong coilaboration for


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the formulation and implementation of plans and programs for the integration and
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mainstreaming of care work in the educational system.
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Sec. 10. Responsibility of Local Government Units. - The city or municipality,
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through the city or municipal mayor concerned, shall ensure the effective
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implementation of the provisions of this Act, as weil as care policies, programs, and
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services developed by the Council, within their respective jurisdictions. The city or
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municipal mayor concerned shall submit annual reports to DILG on their progress.
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Sec. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Councii, through its
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Chairperson, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
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implementation of this Act within sixty (60) days from its approval. The Council, in
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consultation with LGUs, non-government organizations, people's organizations, and
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other key stakeholders, shall lead the preparation of the implementing rules and
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regulations. The rules and regulations issued pursuant to this Section shall take effect
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fifteen (15) days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
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Sec. 12. Appropriations. - The funds necessary to carry out the initial
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implementation of this Act shall be charged against the respective budget of
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concerned agencies for the current year. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary
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for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General
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Appropriations Act.
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Sec. 13. Annual Report. — The Council shall submit comprehensive annual
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reports to the Congress of the Philippines, which shall include its assessment of the
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efficacy of the care policies, programs, and services, and the status of its
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implementation, including, but not limited to, progress reports, chailenges, and
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recommendations, review of the policies involved, research and data, and other
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reports integral to the implementation of this Act.
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Sec. 14. Congressional Oversight. — Both Houses of Congress, particularly the
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Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality of the Senate
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and the Committee on Women and Gender Equality of the House of Representatives,
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shall oversee the implementation of this Act.
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Sec. 15. Sunset Review. - Within five (5) years after the effectivity of this Act,
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or as the need arises, both Houses of Congress shall conduct a sunset review. For
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purposes of this Act, the term "sunset review" shall mean a systematic evaluation by


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the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality of the
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Senate and by the Committee on Women and Gender Equality of the House of
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Representatives of the accomplishments and impact of this Act, as well as the
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performance and organizational structure of its implementing agencies, for purposes
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of determining remedial legislation.
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Sec. 16. Separability Clause. - If any part, section, or provision of this Act shall
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be held invalid or unconstitutional, no other part, section, or provision thereof shall be
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affected thereby.
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Sec. 17. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
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regulations, issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
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hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 18. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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complete publication either in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of
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general circulation.
Approved,