SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
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First Regular Session 
) 
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OCT 14~11 :52 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 1837 
Introduced By Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
As part of the requirements for obtaining certain collegiate degrees and 
professional licenses, some students are required to undergo practical training on the 
job to complement their theoretical knowledge. Internship programs are intended to 
help students to better understand the professions that they will enter as well as to 
transition from school to work. 
To ensure that internship programs accomplish the purpose for which they are 
set, certain parameters as regard work hours and workplace conditions should be 
imposed. The undersigned sponsor is mindful of abuses to the internship program, 
such as the medical internship program that sometimes requires interns to render thirty 
six (36) hour shifts, sometimes without even providing proper workstations or rest 
facilities. 
The present internship program conditions do not guarantee optimal learning for 
students. Thus, the proposed measure outlines maximum work hours and minimum 
facilities for interns. 
The undersigned urges the passage of the present measure. 
c;::::>'Ll 
qM.ANUEL "LITO" M. LAPI!J-J 
Senator 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.B.No. 1837 
Introduced By Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
AN ACT AMENDING TITLE II, CHAPTER 1 
OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 442, 
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OCT 14 
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OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "LABOR CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES" 
Be it enacted by the Senate and Hause of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. Title II, Chapter I of Presidential Decree No. 442, otherwise known 
2 
as the "Labor Code of the Philippines" is hereby amended to read as follows: 
3 
4 
Chapter I 
5 
Apprentices AND INTERNS 
6 
7 
ART. 56. Statement of objectives. - This Title aims: 
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(1) To help meet the demand of the economy for trained 
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manpower; 
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(2) To establish a national apprenticeship AND INTERNSHIP 
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program through the participation of employers, workers and 
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government and non-government agencies; and 
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(3) To establish apprenticeship AND INTERNSHIP standards for 
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the protection of apprentices AND INTERNS. 
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ART. 58. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Title: 
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(a) "Apprenticeship" AND "INTERNSHIP" means practical 
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training on the job supplemented by related theoretical instruction. 
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20 
(b) An "apprentice" is a worker who is covered by a written 
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apprenticeship agreement with an individual employer or any of the 
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entities recognized under this Chapter. 
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(C) AN "'INTERN" IS A WORKER WHO RECEIVES 
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TRAINING ON THE JOB AS REQUIRED BY A SCHOOL OR 
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TRAINING PROGRAM CURRICULUM OR AS REQUISITE FOR 
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GRADUATION OR BOARD EXAMINATIONS. 
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1 


1 
[(c)] (D) An "apprenticeab/e occupation" means any trade, form of 
2 
employment or occupation which requires more than three (3) months 
3 
of practical training on the job supplemented by related theoretical 
4 
instruction. 
5 
6 
[(d)] (E) "Apprenticeship agreement" is an employment contract 
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wherein the employer binds himself to train the apprentice and the 
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apprentice in turn accepts the terms of training. 
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10 
ART. 69. Responsibility for theoretical instruction. - Supplementary 
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theoretical instruction to apprentices in cases where the program is 
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undertaken in the plant may be done by the employer. If the latter is not 
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prepared to assume the responsibility, the same may be delegated to an 
14 
appropriate government agency. 
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ART. 72. [Apprentices without compensation. - The Secretary of Labor and 
17 
Employment may authorize the hiring of apprentices without 
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compensation whose training on the job is required by the school or 
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training program curriculum or as requisite or graduation or board 
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examination.] RIGHTS OF INTERNS. - ALL INTERNS SHALL BE 
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ENTITLED TO THE FOLLOWING: 
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(A) NORMAL HOURS OF WORK SHALL NOT EXCEED 
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TWENTY-FOUR (24) HOURS A DAY AND SHALL NOT, 
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IN ANY CASE, EXCEED EIGHTY (80) HOURS A WEEK; 
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(B) INTERNS SHALL ENJOY AT LEAST ONE (1) DAY FREE 
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OF DUTY EVERY WEEK AND A MINIMUM OF EIGHT (8) 
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HOURS FREE OF DUTY SHOULD BE GIVEN BETWEEN 
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DUTY PERIODS; 
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(C)ADEQUATE WORKSTATIONS SHALL BE PROVIDED 
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WHICH SHOULD BE 
SUITABLY ARRANGED TO 
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ACCOMMODATE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF INTERNS; 
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(D)WASH ROOMS OR SHOWERS AND CHANGING 
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ROOMS SHOULD BE 
READILY 
ACCESSIBLE TO 
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ENSURE HYGIENE, PARTICULARLY FOR INTERNS 
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WHO ARE ON DUTY FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF 
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TIME, I' ARTICULARL Y DURING NIGHT SHIFTS; 
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(E) SUITABLE 
EATING 
FACILITIES 
SHOULD 
BE 
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PROVIDED; AND 
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(F) SUIT ABLE 
RESTING 
QUARTERS 
SHOULD 
BE 
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PROVIDED TO INTERNS WHO ARE ON DUTY FOR 
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MORE THAN EIGHT (8) HOURS AND THOSE WHO ARE 
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ON DUTY DURING NIGHT-SHIFTS. 
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SEC. 2. The Conunission on Higher Education shall promulgate the necessary 
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rules and regulations to implement this Act. 
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, . 
1 
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SEC. 3. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be 
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provided in a supplemental budget or included in the General Appropriations Act of 
4 
the year of its enactment into law. 
Thereafter, the expenses for its continued 
5 
implementation shall be included in the subsequent General Appropriations Act. 
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SEC. 4. 
If any provision or part of this Act shall be declared invalid or 
8 
unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full 
9 
force and effect. 
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SEC. 5. All laws, decrees, executive orders, issuances, rules and regulations or 
12 
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or 
13 
modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
16 
Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
3