Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY  
REP. ALFRED VARGAS 
AN ACT  
PROHIBITING EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION 
AGAINST K TO 12 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article 2, Section 9 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides: 
The State shall promote a just and dynamic 
social order that will ensure the prosperity and 
independence of the nation and free the people from 
poverty through policies that provide adequate social 
services, promote full employment, a rising standard 
of living, and an improved quality of life for all. 
With the implementation of the K to 12 Basic Education Program of the 
Department of Education, our high school graduates are expected to be more 
competent than ever. The K to 12 curriculum is standard and competency-
based and is built around the needs of the learners and the community. 
Coupled with the fact that the new wave of high school graduates will 
be two years older than their previous counterparts, this means these 
competent set of graduates will have more years of experience to be more 
employable. Due to economic conditions, some Filipino families would opt to 
send their young graduates to work, instead of moving on to enroll in higher 
education. However, very few options are available to our high school 
graduates due to stigma and discrimination. Some employers require entry 
level employees to have college degree or be enrolled in college, regardless of 
whether the degree is related to the job opening before they can apply. 
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With the institutionalized K to 12 Program that matches competencies 
worldwide, higher levels of education should now be optional to everyone. It 
entails additional amount of investment from the family to send their children 
to the universities. Some families incur debts just to be able to afford the 
tuition so their children can have a college degree just so they can apply for 
jobs that require them. 
Requiring a college degree for the sake of merely having them is an 
undue burden that the employers ask of their prospective employees and their 
families. In many situations, these entry level positions are jobs that our high 
school graduates are perfectly capable of doing. Furthermore, a number of 
progressive companies now require training for their new employees before 
the latter perform actual work, regardless of whether they have college degrees 
or not. 
The discrimination that high school graduates experience when certain 
companies require a college degree on positions that ought not to require one, 
must be prohibited. In doing so, we will be able to provide a broader 
employment base for employers and more opportunities to our high school 
graduates. 
This bill seeks to prohibit discrimination against non-degree holders for 
purposes of employment. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought.  
ALFRED VARGAS 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY  
REP. ALFRED VARGAS 
AN ACT  
PROHIBITING EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION 
AGAINST K TO 12 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. − This Act shall be known as the “K to 12 Graduates 
Empowerment Act”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It shall be the policy of the State to 
prohibit arbitrary limitations in the qualifications to employment. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – For the purposes of this Act, the term: 
a) "Employee" includes any individual employed by an employer;
b) "Employer" includes any person acting directly or indirectly in the
interest of an employer relating to an employee and shall include the
Government and all its branches, subdivision and instrumentalities,
all government-owned or controlled corporations and institutions, as
well as non-profit private institutions, or organizations;
c) "Job Applicant" includes any person who applied for a specific and
vacant position for which an employer is seeking candidates, met the
predefined, documented minimum requirements related to a
specific, open position, applied for the position during the period
that the applicant flow log remained open, and who complied with
the hiring organization's formal recruitment practices;
d) "Publisher" includes any person or juridical entity engaged in the
printing of information on paper and its distribution, buying or
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otherwise securing of airtime or space on television, radio, internet 
and similar media, or other similar methods. 
SECTION 4. Employers Covered. – The provisions of this Act shall apply to 
all employers, including national and local governments. It shall also apply to 
labor contractors and labor organizations. 
SECTION 5. Individuals Covered. – The provisions of this Act shall apply to 
all individuals, whether employees or job applicants who may be subject to 
discrimination in the workplace, or hiring process, due to educational 
attainment. 
SECTION 6. Education and Research Programs. – The Department of 
Labor and Employment (DOLE) shall: 
a) Conduct studies and researches, and come up with corresponding 
guidelines aimed at minimizing impediments to the employment of 
non-college degree holders, and furnish such information to 
employers, labor groups, and the general public; and 
b) Promote programs, in coordination with public and private agencies 
that will further enhance the knowledge and skills of every 
individual, regardless of educational attainment. 
SECTION 7. Prohibited Acts. –  It shall be unlawful for an employer to: 
a) Print or publish, or cause to be printed or published, in any form of 
media, including internet, any notice of advertisement relating to 
employment suggesting preferences, limitations, specifications, and 
discrimination against graduates of the K to 12 Program; 
b) Decline any employment application because of the individual's lack 
of college degree or unit, except if the degree or units required are 
related to the job opening; 
c) Discriminate against an individual in terms of compensation, terms 
and conditions, or privileges of employment on account of such 
individual's lack of college degree or unit, except if the degree or 
units required are related to the job opening. 
SECTION 8. Allowable Qualification. – The employer may require college 
degree or units from prospective employees provided that the same is a bona 
fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary in the normal operation 
of business and such degree or units directly relates to the job opening. 
 


SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) 
days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the Department of 
Labor and Employment shall, in coordination with other stakeholders, 
issue 
the 
necessary 
rules 
and 
regulations 
for 
the 
effective 
implementation of this Act.  
SECTION 10. Separability Clause. – If, for any reason, any provision of this 
Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, parts or provisions of this Act 
which are not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. – All laws, executive orders, presidential 
decrees, Implementing Rules and Regulations inconsistent with this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 12. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
Approved,