Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____________ 
Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Social justice was defined in the case of Alfante vs. Noe as “the promotion of 
the welfare of all the people and the adoption by the government of measures 
calculated to ensure economic stability of all the component elements of society 
through the maintenance of a proper economic and social equilibrium in the 
interrelations of the members of the community.  Such can be achieved either 
constitutionally through the adoption of measures which are legally justifiable or extra-
constitutionally through the exercise of powers underlying the existence of all 
governments on the time-honored principle of salus populi est suprema lex1. Social 
justice, therefore, must be founded on the recognition of the necessity of 
interdependence among divers and diverse units of a society and of the protection that 
should be equally and evenly extended to all groups as a combined force in our social 
and economic life, consistent with the fundamental and paramount objective of the 
state of promoting the health, comfort, and quiet of all persons, and of bringing about 
"the greatest good to the greatest number”2. 
Simply, the concept of social justice imparts that everyone in the country 
deserves equal rights, equal treatment, and equal opportunities. However, social 
justice is not achieved easily as people in our country belong to different statures which 
limit opportunities for others,  thereby subjecting those affected to inequality of rights 
and treatment. This is the reality in our country but that does not mean that this 
situation cannot be improved.  
1 The welfare of the people is the supreme law. 
2 Alfante vs. Noe, G.R. No. L-32362 dated 19 September 1973 
July 14, 2021
11:53 am
9830


One of the most famous quotations of President Ramon Magsaysay states that 
“those who have less in life must have more in law” which indeed is relevant in order 
to achieve social justice. In relation to this, members of the informal sector workers 
are faced with so much predicaments as they are not accorded the same rights as 
those who are employed in formal settings. Some are faced with low and fluctuating 
incomes, difficult working conditions, and so much more. Considering these, there 
must be a tool that would extend protection to their rights in order to achieve a just and 
humane society for all.  
 In order to extend protection to workers belonging in the informal sector, accord 
them opportunities and their rights, and ultimately take a step forward in achieving 
social justice, this Bill is, therefore, proposed.  With the increasing trend of workers 
belonging in the informal sector, it is only right that this Bill which shall, among others, 
affirm and protect the rights of workers, standardize social security measures, 
establish a registration system for workers in the informal sector, be passed.  
In view of the foregoing and in the pursuit of social justice, the passage of this 
Bill is earnestly sought.  
ERIC OLIVAREZ 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____________ 
Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ 
1 
 “AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A MAGNA CARTA OF WORKERS IN 
2 
THE INFORMAL SECTOR, INSTITUTIONALIZING 
3 
MECHANISMS FOR IMPLEMENTATION THEREOF 
4 
AND AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
5 
CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC 
6 
ACT NOS. 7160 AND 8282” 
7 
8 
Be it enacted in the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of the 
9 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
10 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Magna Carta of 
11 
Workers in the Informal Sector”.  
12 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It shall be the policy of the State to 
13 
promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity of the nation 
14 
and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social 
15 
services and promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved 
16 
quality life for all.  
17 
 Towards this end, the State shall afford protection to labor and promote full 
18 
employment and equality of employment opportunities for all most especially those 
19 
belonging to the informal sector.  
20 
The State shall guarantee the rights of all workers including those belonging to 
21 
the informal sector, the rights to self-organization, humane conditions of worker and 
22 
9830


to participate in policy decision-making processes affecting their rights and benefits as 
1 
may be provided by law.  
2 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. –  
3 
a) Informal Sector shall refer to economic activities engaged in by workers 
4 
and organizations that are not covered by any formal arrangements. The 
5 
same are those who operate at a low level of organization with little or no 
6 
division between labor and capital as factors of production.  
7 
The informal sector shall also cover workers or organizations of people 
8 
involved in any business activity whose total assets do not value more than 
9 
the amount of: 
10 
i. 
ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (Php150,000.00) for 
11 
small transport;  
12 
ii. 
ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (Php150,000.00) for 
13 
marginalized farmers;  
14 
iii. 
ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (Php150,000.00) for 
15 
marginalized fisherfolks; 
16 
iv. 
ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (Php150,000.00) for 
17 
small vendors with designated stalls 
18 
v. 
FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (Php50,000.00) for home-based 
19 
workers;  
20 
vi. 
FIFTEEN THOUSAND PESOS (Php15,000.00) for ambulant and 
21 
street vendors.  
22 
 
Corporations, quasi-corporations, units with ten (10) or more 
23 
employees, corporate farms, commercial livestock raising, and commercial 
24 
fishing are excluded from the definition of informal sector; 
25 
b) Informal Sector One-Stop Shop shall refer to the designated office at the local 
26 
government units where all transactions needed in the processing of business 
27 
requirements needed by Informal Sector Workers in accordance with the 
28 
provisions of this Act;  
29 
c) Mutual Benefit Associations shall refer to a group that provides certain 
30 
benefits to its members, including financial reimbursement for specific types of 
31 
losses. 
32 
d) Eviction shall refer to the dispossession of a tenant from possession of 
33 
premises which he or she is occupying. 
34 
e) Self-employed workers shall refer to an individual who does not work for a 
35 
specific employer who pays him or her a specific salary or wage.  
36 


SECTION 4.  Coverage. – The provisions of this Act shall apply to all members 
1 
of the informal sector who are operating, employed or working either as a micro-
2 
entrepreneur or is self-employed.  
3 
For purposes of this Act, the term “informal sector” shall include the following:  
4 
a) Micro-entrepreneurs and those who are self-employed: 
5 
i. 
Vendors, whether or not with stalls, including ambulant vendors, street 
6 
vendors or those plying their goods and trades in streets and those 
7 
engaged in the business of sari-sari stores which conform with the total 
8 
asset value requirements as mentioned in Section 3 (a) of this Act; 
9 
ii. 
Small farmers;  
10 
iii. 
Marginalized fisherfolks;  
11 
iv. 
Home-based workers who are independent producers of goods or 
12 
services and whose total asset value conforms with that mentioned in 
13 
Section 3 (a) of this Act 
14 
v. 
Small transport such as, but not limited to, non-corporate operators of 
15 
small marine boats or vessels for transport, tricycle, pedicabs, and the 
16 
like whose total asset value conforms with the requirement mentioned in 
17 
Section 3 (a) of this Act. 
18 
b) Own-account or those who are self-employed:  
19 
i. 
On-call domestic and service workers such as cleaners, laundry workers 
20 
and the like;  
21 
ii. 
Barbers, manicurists, pedicurists and the like;  
22 
iii. 
Drivers of tricycles, pedicabs, and the like; 
23 
iv. 
Barkers, fare collectors, dispatchers and other workers who share in the 
24 
income of non-corporate operators;  
25 
v. 
Welders and mechanics;  
26 
vi. 
Non-corporate construction workers such as but not limited to 
27 
carpenters, plumbers, electrician, mason or house painters;  
28 
vii. 
Appliance technicians;  
29 
viii. 
Scavengers 
30 
SECTION 5. Registration. – Members of the informal sector shall be required 
31 
to pay a registration fee of ONE HUNDRED PESOS (Php100.00) and shall register in 
32 
the municipality or city where the operation is intended. The fee shall cover the cost of 
33 
the issuance of the license to operate. No other fees shall be collected from the 
34 
informal sector workers other than the registration fee abovementioned.  
35 


The registration shall entitle the informal sector business activities to 
1 
development programs and benefits under this Act. 
2 
SECTION 6. Informal Sector One-Stop Shop. – All local government units 
3 
shall be required to establish an Informal Sector One-Stop Shop.  Such One-Stop 
4 
Shop shall handle all transactions and processing of business permit applications 
5 
within their respective jurisdiction.  
6 
The One-Stop Shop shall be responsible for the processing of the business 
7 
permit of informal sector business activities. The processing shall be accomplished on 
8 
the same day the application was submitted and the registration shall be released 
9 
within thirty-six (36) hours upon submission of requirements. Furthermore, the local 
10 
government unit concerned shall cause the posting of the checklist and flowchart of 
11 
procedure of registration in at least three (3) conspicuous and public areas in their 
12 
respective communities and cause the publication in a newspaper of general 
13 
circulation of the same.  
14 
Furthermore, the One-Stop Shop shall maintain a comprehensive database of 
15 
informal sector business activities and enterprises which have been issued licenses 
16 
to operate. The database shall serve as a basis of the assessment and a monitoring 
17 
tool of the growth of the informal sector.  
18 
SECTION 7.  Annual Dues. – Informal sector business activities or enterprise 
19 
shall pay annual dues to the Informal Sector One-Stop Shop or Treasurer of the 
20 
municipality or city where they are registered and accredited starting on their second 
21 
year of operations based on the following schedule:  
22 
 
23 
a) Those with net worth amounting to less than 
Php25,000.00 
Php250.00 
b) Those with net worth amounting to Php25,000.00 but 
less than Php75,000.00 
Php500.00 
c) Those with net worth amounting to Php75,000.00 but 
less than Php100,000.00 
Php1,000.00 
d) Those with net worth amounting to Php100,000.00 but 
less than Php125,000.00 
Php1,250.00 
e) Those with net worth amounting to Php125,000.00 but 
less than Php150,000.00 
Php1,500.00 
A financial statement as proof of the net worth must be provided to the One 
24 
Stop Shop in order to determine the annual dues to be paid.  
25 


The collected fee shall accrue exclusively to the municipality or city concerned 
1 
and shall be used for informal sector development programs approved by the 
2 
municipal or city council.  
3 
SECTION 8. Informal Sector Local Development Office – The Informal 
4 
Sector Local Development Office (ISLDO) shall be established in every province, 
5 
municipality, and city to enhance the access of the informal sectors to assistance and 
6 
support.  
7 
 The ISLDO shall also be responsible for monitoring the growth of the informal 
8 
sector business activities or enterprises three (3) years after the enactment of the 
9 
provisions of this Act and every three (3) years thereafter.  
10 
For this purpose, the local chief executives shall act as the primary overseers 
11 
in the operations of ISLDO while the informal workers shall be represented by at least 
12 
five (5) representatives from the informal sector workers; provided, that all subgroups 
13 
shall be represented by at least one (1) representative each. 
14 
RIGHTS OF WORKERS IN THE INFORMAL SECTOR 
15 
SECTION 9. Rights of Informal Sector Workers. –  Informal sector workers 
16 
shall be accorded the same rights enjoyed by all workers derived from the Philippine 
17 
Constitution, the Labor Code of the Philippines, as amended, and relevant 
18 
international human rights instruments and international labor standards. The workers 
19 
in the informal sector shall be guaranteed the following rights:  
20 
a) Right of security of and in the workplace;  
21 
b) Right to make a living;  
22 
c) Right to just and favorable work conditions including provision of work-life 
23 
balance, child care, and other facilities;  
24 
d) Right to a living wage and equal remuneration for work of equal value without 
25 
distinction of any kind;  
26 
e) Right to safe and healthy working conditions safeguarding general, 
27 
occupational, and reproductive health;  
28 
f) Right to basic services including affordable medical care, reproductive and 
29 
other health services, low-cost housing, water sanitation, cheap and affordable 
30 
electricity, and efficient and effective transportation system;  
31 
g) Right to rest, leisure, and reasonable limitation of working hours;  
32 
h) Right to maternity and paternity benefits, as provided for by law;  
33 
i) Right to equal access to education, skills training, and economic resources to 
34 
develop self-reliance, especially for the youth, without discrimination  
35 


j) Right to self-organization and to negotiate collectively with government and 
1 
other entities in the promotion of their welfare and in the advancement of their 
2 
interests free from any political interference;  
3 
k) Right to adequate food, clothing, shelter, and standard of living, and the 
4 
continuous improvement of such standard;  
5 
l) Right to be free from any form of discrimination, violence, exploitation, 
6 
harassment, abuse, and any form of inhumane treatment which debases, 
7 
degrades, or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of the worker as a human 
8 
being; 
9 
m) Right to accessible social protection and safety nets, labor market programs, 
10 
and social welfare interventions such as social security, health care, and 
11 
insurance; 
12 
n) Right to participate in policy and decision-making processes and social 
13 
dialogue including access to information and resources relevant to the 
14 
promotion and protection of their rights and welfare; and 
15 
o) Right to equal and equitable access to justice for redress of grievances 
16 
including alternative dispute resolution processes. 
17 
SECTION 10. Rights of Legitimate Organizations of Workers in the 
18 
Informal Sector. – Workers in the informal sector may organize into unions or any 
19 
mutual benefit association. Registration with the Department of Labor and 
20 
Employment (DOLE) shall be required and the organizations shall have the following 
21 
rights:  
22 
a) Right to function and act as the representatives of their members in policy and 
23 
decision-making processes, collective negotiations, tripartite bodies and 
24 
consultations, multi-sectoral organizations, and other similar bodies;  
25 
b) Right to establish, join, or affiliate with national federations or confederations, 
26 
and international trade union organizations;  
27 
c) Right to access information from concerned government institutions and other 
28 
parties that are pertinent to the protection and promotion of the rights and 
29 
welfare of their members;  
30 
d) Right to own property, whether real or personal, for the use and benefit of their 
31 
organizations and members;  
32 
e) Right to sue and be sued under their registered name; and  
33 
f) Undertake all other activities not contrary to law designed to benefit their 
34 
organizations and members 
35 
SECTION 11. Assistance to Informal Sector Workers’ Organization. – All 
36 
concerned national government agencies, government financial institutions and local 
37 


government units shall include in their plans programs, projects and activities, and 
1 
efforts that are supportive of the concerns of the informal sector workers’ 
2 
organizations.   
3 
SECTION 12. Representation in Policy Making Bodies. – The LGUs shall 
4 
ensure the participation of the informal sector workers in public decision-making 
5 
processes and their members shall be accorded the right to participate in all levels of 
6 
public decision-making. The State shall, therefore, ensure that the informal sector 
7 
workers be given mandatory representation in policy-making bodies and other 
8 
legislative councils.  
9 
For this purpose, Sections 446, 457, and 467 of Republic Act 7160 is hereby 
10 
amended to read as follows:  
11 
“SECTION 446. Composition. – (a) The Sangguniang 
12 
Bayan, the legislative body of the municipality, shall be composed 
13 
of the municipal vice mayor as the presiding officer and the regular 
14 
Sanggunian members, the president of the municipal chapter of the 
15 
Liga ng mga Barangay, the president of the Pambayang 
16 
Pederasyon ng mga Sangguniang Kabataan, and the sectoral 
17 
representatives, as members. 
18 
(b) In addition thereto, there shall be three (3) sectoral 
19 
representatives: one (1) from the women as shall be determined by 
20 
the sanggunian concerned within ninety (90) days prior to the 
21 
holding of local elections, one (1) from the agricultural or industrial 
22 
workers OR INFORMAL SECTOR WORKERS,  and one (1) from 
23 
other sectors, including the urban poor, indigenous cultural 
24 
communities, or disabled persons. 
25 
(c) The regular members of the Sangguniang Bayan 
26 
and the sectoral representatives shall be elected in the manner as 
27 
may be provided for by law. 
28 
xxx 
29 
SECTION 457. Composition – (a) The Sangguniang 
30 
Panlungsod, the legislative body of the city, shall be composed of 
31 
the city vice-mayor as presiding officer, the regular Sanggunian 
32 
members, the president of the city chapter of the Liga ng mga 
33 
Barangay, the president of the Panlungsod na Pederasyon ng mga 
34 
Sangguniang Kabataan, and the sectoral representatives, as 
35 
members. 
36 
(b) In addition thereto, there shall be three (3) sectoral 
37 
representatives: one (1) from the women as shall be determined by 
38 
the sanggunian concerned within ninety (90) days prior to the 
39 


holding of the local elections, one (1) from the agricultural or 
1 
industrial workers OR INFORMAL SECTOR WORKERS; and one 
2 
(1) from the other sectors including the urban poor, indigenous 
3 
cultural communities, or disabled persons. 
4 
(c) The regular members of the Sangguniang 
5 
Panlungsod and the sectoral representatives shall be elected in the 
6 
manner as may be provided for by law. 
7 
xxx 
8 
SECTION 467. Composition. – (a) The Sangguniang 
9 
Panlalawigan, the legislative body of the province, shall be 
10 
composed of the provincial vice-governor as presiding officer, the 
11 
regular Sanggunian members, the president of the provincial 
12 
chapter of the Liga ng mga Barangay, the president of the 
13 
Panlalawigang Pederasyon ng mga Sangguniang Kabataan, the 
14 
president of the provincial federation of Sanggunian members of 
15 
municipalities 
and 
component 
cities, 
and 
the 
sectoral 
16 
representatives, as members. 
17 
(b) In addition thereto, there shall be three (3) sectoral 
18 
representatives: one (1) from the women as shall be determined by 
19 
the Sanggunian concerned within ninety (90) days prior to the 
20 
holding of the local elections, one (1) from the agricultural or 
21 
industrial workers OR INFORMAL SECTOR WORKERS, and one 
22 
(1) from other sectors including the urban poor, indigenous cultural 
23 
communities, or disabled persons. 
24 
(c) The regular members of the Sangguniang 
25 
Panlalawigan and the sectoral representatives shall be elected in 
26 
the manner as may be provided for by law.” 
27 
SOCIAL PROTECTION OF THE INFORMAL SECTOR WORKERS  
28 
SECTION 13. Social Security Coverage. – Accredited informal sector workers 
29 
shall be entitled to social security coverage along with the benefits provided under 
30 
Republic Act No. 8282, otherwise known as “An Act Further Strengthening the Social 
31 
Security System thereby amending for this purpose, Republic Act No. 1161, as 
32 
amended, otherwise known as the Social Security Law”, provided that the 
33 
corresponding monthly contributions of small farmers shall be remitted every six (6) 
34 
months scheduled every post-harvest of farm produce.  For this purpose, Section 22-
35 
A of Republic Act 8282 is hereby amended to read as follows:  
36 


“SEC. 22-A. Remittance of Contributions of Self-Employed 
1 
Members. - Self-employed members shall remit their monthly 
2 
contributions quarterly on such dates and schedules as the 
3 
Commission may specify through rules and regulations. 
4 
HOWEVER, FARMERS ENROLLED AS SELF-EMPLOYED 
5 
MEMBERS SHALL REMIT THEIR MONTHLY CONTRIBUTIONS 
6 
EVERY SIX (6) MONTHS  SCHEDULED EVERY POST 
7 
HARVEST OF FARM PRODUCE.  Provided, that no retroactive 
8 
payment of contributions shall be allowed, except as provided in 
9 
this Section. 
10 
 
Accordingly, the Social Security System shall promulgate the guidelines for 
11 
the collection of the aforesaid premiums within ninety (90) days from the effectivity 
12 
of this Act. 
13 
SECTION 14. Other Social Insurance Programs. –  Other social insurance 
14 
programs including the Home Development Mutual Fund (PAGIBIG) and PhilHealth 
15 
shall be fully available to the workers in the informal sector consistent with the 
16 
provisions of this Act.  
17 
Accordingly, the insurance programs concerned in this Section shall 
18 
promulgate the guidelines for the collection of the premiums within ninety (90) days 
19 
from the effectivity of this Act. 
20 
SECTION 15. Alternative Schemes of Providing Social Security. – The 
21 
LGUs and other concerned national agencies shall support and strengthen alternative 
22 
schemes for the provision of social security such as small mutual benefit associations, 
23 
micro-finance organizations, micro-health insurance schemes, and the like 
24 
participated by informal sector workers.  
25 
To this end, the Insurance Commission is hereby mandated to review its 
26 
policies in order to make them supportive of alternative schemes in providing social 
27 
security especially in favor of workers in the informal sector.  
28 
SECURITY IN THE WORKPLACE OF WORKERS IN  
29 
THE INFORMAL SECTOR 
30 
SECTION 16. Designation of Workplaces. – The LGUs, in coordination with 
31 
their respective ISLDO, the affected community, organization and their members, and 
32 
other relevant groups in the informal sector, shall identify, designate, and design viable 
33 
workplaces for workers in the informal sector.  
34 
In the formulation of designation of workplaces, vacant areas near markets, 
35 
vacant public spaces, and other spaces which may be a private property that the 
36 
concerned LGU may acquire or lease shall be taken into account as well as routes, 
37 
terminals, and specific lanes for small transport workers.  
38 


SECTION 17. Policy on Eviction and Demolition. – Registered workers in 
1 
the informal sector who have no permanent working site shall not be deprived of their 
2 
livelihood by being unjustly ejected from their workplaces without due process. 
3 
Eviction and demolition shall only take place for just cause, in accordance with 
4 
pertinent laws, and with prior notice and consultation along with a provision of 
5 
relocation to other viable workplaces.  
6 
 
Responsible officers or persons who conduct the eviction and/or demolition 
7 
without due process shall be held administratively liable under this Act.  
8 
 
In case eviction or demolition is warranted, the person authorized to conduct 
9 
the same shall issue a receipt of the itemized products and other materials seized from 
10 
the affected worker in the informal sector.  Failure to issue the receipt shall warrant 
11 
administrative liability against the person who conducted the eviction or demolition.  
12 
 
Finally, whenever an eviction or demolition takes place, the responsible officer 
13 
or government agency that conducted the same shall ensure that violence and/or 
14 
unreasonable force are not committed in the conduct of its operations. Nothing herein 
15 
shall deprive the aggrieved informal sector worker the right to file criminal and/or civil 
16 
actions, whenever applicable.  
17 
SECTION 18. Relocation of Vending Sites. – Before the closure, sale, or 
18 
demolishment of any public market, all affected market vendors shall be relocated by 
19 
the LGU concerned to a temporary or new public market.  
20 
Notice of the intention to close, sell, or demolish any public market shall be 
21 
made to all concerned vendors at least sixty (60) days before the actual transfer or 
22 
relocation to another market site. Within the sixty-day period after the issuance of 
23 
notice, the LGU shall conduct consultations with affected vendors on the relocation 
24 
implementation of the relocation.  
25 
Pending the designation of a viable vending area, vendors occupying a public 
26 
place or places not previously designated as a vending site shall be provided with a 
27 
viable temporary site by the LGU concerned. Notice of temporary transfer shall be 
28 
given to the vendors at least fifteen (15) days before the actual transfer. The same 
29 
shall apply to vendors who are granted with permits but whose workplaces are 
30 
withdrawn from the list of allowable vending sites.  
31 
Finally, should a new public market be constructed in place of an old market 
32 
that is closed, sold, or demolished,  market vendors with stalls displaced from their 
33 
workplaces shall be given priority in the assignment of stalls in the new market.  
34 
SECTION 19. Relocation of Terminals. – Designated tricycle and pedicab 
35 
terminals shall not, without any prior notice and consultation with the transport groups 
36 
concerned, be arbitrarily relocated. Likewise, relocation of terminals shall only be 
37 
effected through an ordinance. After the enactment of the ordinance relocating said 
38 
terminals, notice of intention to relocate terminals shall be given to all small transport 
39 
groups and the affected community at least sixty (60) days before the actual relocation.   
40 


PROHIBITED ACTS CONCERNING ENGAGEMENT OF INFORMAL WORKERS 
1 
SECTION 20.  Applicability of the Provisions of the Labor Code. – The 
2 
Labor Code shall apply where an employer-employee relationship exists between an 
3 
employer and a worker in the informal economy.  
4 
SECTION 21. Prohibited Acts. – The following acts shall be deemed 
5 
prohibited: 
6 
a) Hazardous Work Conditions. – Any worker shall not be engaged in any 
7 
hazardous work, activity, or undertaking neither shall the worker be exposed to 
8 
hazardous working conditions. The rights of all workers under Republic Act No. 
9 
11058, otherwise known as “An Act Strengthen Compliance with Occupational 
10 
Safety and Health Standards and Provide Penalties for Violations Thereof”, 
11 
shall be applicable 
12 
b) Non-compliance Republic Act No. 7610, as amended by Republic Act No. 9231 
13 
in the employment of minors. – Workers of minor age shall not render work 
14 
between ten o’clock in the evening and six o’clock in the morning of the 
15 
following day.  Furthermore, workers of minor age shall not be allowed to render 
16 
work beyond their mental and physical capabilities. The employer of minors 
17 
shall be responsible in providing the minor workers with access to elementary 
18 
or secondary education, either through traditional schooling or alternative 
19 
learning system.  
20 
c) Bonded Labor. – A worker shall not be allowed to use his/her future services 
21 
as a collateral for any loan or advances made or to be made to the person who 
22 
contracted the worker’s services. Additionally, no person shall be allowed to 
23 
bind the worker to a continued employment as a mode of payment for any loan 
24 
or advances that the worker concerned has made to the former.  
25 
d) Recruitment or Finders’ Fees. – Worker in the informal sector shall not be 
26 
charged a recruitment fee or finder’s fee even if the worker was sourced through 
27 
an employment agency or a third party.  
28 
e) Interference and Coercion. – The following shall be considered prohibited acts 
29 
of interference and coercion: 
30 
i. 
Preventing any worker from exercising his/her rights;  
31 
ii. 
Preventing any worker from joining or assisting an organization for 
32 
purposes not contrary to law;  
33 
iii. 
Preventing any worker from carrying out his/her duties or functions in an 
34 
organization or to penalize the same for any lawful action performed in 
35 
that capacity;  
36 
iv. 
Harassing, threatening, coercing, or intimidating any worker that results 
37 
in preventing him or her from performing his or her duties and functions;  
38 


v. 
Transferring, penalizing, or terminating the services of a worker without 
1 
valid or legal ground; and  
2 
vi. 
Other acts that diminish the independence and freedom of the workers’ 
3 
organization to direct its own affairs 
4 
f) Non-compliance with Minimum Labor Standards and Occupational Health and 
5 
Safety Standards. – The terms and conditions of employment of workers in the 
6 
informal sector shall be in line with the minimum standards prescribed by law. 
7 
Lack of formality in the work arrangement shall not be a cause to violate the 
8 
minimum standards prescribed by law.  It shall be sufficient that there is control 
9 
on how the work is to be done at the time of the engagement or economic 
10 
dependence of the worker on the employer is present.  
11 
SECTION 22. Violation of Prohibited Acts. – Any person who shall commit 
12 
any of the prohibited acts set forth in the preceding paragraphs of this Act shall be 
13 
punished by a fine of not less than TWENTY THOUSAND PESOS (Php20,000.00) but 
14 
not more than TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (Php200,000.00) or by 
15 
imprisonment of ONE (1) year to SIX (6) years, or both at the discretion of the court.  
16 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
17 
SECTION 23. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The departments and 
18 
agencies charged with the implementation of the provisions of this Act shall, within 
19 
ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act, formulate the necessary rules and 
20 
regulations for its effective implementation.  
21 
SECTION 24.Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared 
22 
invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain 
23 
valid and subsisting.  
24 
SECTION 25. Repealing Clause. – All acts, executive orders, memorandum 
25 
circulars/guidelines and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with 
26 
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.  
27 
SECTION 26. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
28 
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.  
29 
 APPROVED. 
30