FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No,2 9 21 
'11 
JUL 26 P 3 :21 
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Labor Code declares tripartism in labor relations as a State Policy. 
Article 275 of the Labor Code states that "Tripartism in labor relations is hereby 
declared a state policy. Towards this end, workers and employers shall, as far as 
practicable, be represented in decision and policy-making bodies of the government. 
Xxx" 
Tripartism refers to the representation of workers and employers sectors in 
decision and policy making bodies of the government. 
Through tripartism, 
employers and workers on the one hand, representing their respective interests, and 
the government on the other hand, representing the interest of the public, help shape 
labor, social and economic policies and programs of the government. 
The Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (TIPC) is the main consultative and 
advisory body lodged with the Department of Labor and Employment. It serves 
primarily as a venue where representatives from labor, employers and government 
sectors discuss and process relevant policy issues on labor and employment. 
This Bill amending Article 275 of the Labor Code seeks to strengthen 
tripartism and incorporates the twenty (20) labor and employer representatives each 
per sector which shall be designated by the President at regular interval and the 
nomination and selection procedure observing the "most representative" organization 
criterion of ILO Convention 144. 
Immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 2 9 21 
'II 
JUL 26 P 3 :21 
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING TRIPARTISM, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE ARTICLE 275 
OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE 442, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LABOR CODE 
OF THE PHILIPPINES, AS AMENDED 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Section 1, Article 275 of the Labor Code is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
"Article 
275. 
TRIPARTISM, 
TRIPATITE 
CONFERENCES AND TRIPARTITE INDUSTRIAL PEACE 
COUNCILS. 
(a) 
Tripartism in labor relations is hereby declared a State 
policy. Towards this end, workers and employers, shall, as 
far as practicable, be represented in decision and policy-
making bodies of the government. 
(b) 
The Secretary of Labor and Employment or his duly 
authorized representatives may, from time to time, call a 
national, regional or industrial tripartite conference of 
representatives of government, workers and employers, and 
other interest groups as the case may be, for the 
consideration and adoption of voluntary codes of principles 
designed to promote industrial peace based on social justice 
or to align labor movement relations with established 


priorities in economic and social development. In calling 
such conference, the Secretary of Labor and Employment 
may consult with accredited representatives of workers and 
employers. 
(c) 
TRIPARTITE INDUSTRIAL PEACE COUNCILS IN 
THE NATIONAL, REGIONAL OR INDUSTRY SHALL BE 
ESTABLISHED 
WITH 
REPRESENTATIVES 
FROM 
GOVERNMENT, 
WORKERS 
AND 
EMPLOYERS, 
TO 
SERVE AS A CONTINUING FORUM FOR TRIPARTITE 
ADVISEMENT 
AND 
CONSULTATION 
IN 
AID 
OF 
STREAMLINING 
THE 
ROLE 
OF 
GOVERNMENT, 
EMPOWERING 
WORKERS' 
AND 
EMPLOYERS' 
ORGANIZATIONS, 
ENHANCING THEIR 
RESPECTIVE 
RIGHTS, 
ATTAINING 
INDUSTRIAL 
PEACE 
AND 
IMPROVING PRODUCTIVITY. 
THE SECRETARY OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT SHALL 
HEAD THE NATIONAL TRIPARTITE INDUSTRIAL PEACE 
COUNCIL 
(NTIPC) 
WITH 
TWENTY 
(20) 
REPRESENTATIVES EACH FROM THE LABOR AND 
EMPLOYER'S SECTORS TO BE DESIGNATED BY THE 
PRESIDENT 
AT 
REGULAR 
INTERVAL. 
FOR 
THIS 
PURPOSE, A SECTORAL NOMINATION, SELECTION 
AND RECALL PROCESS SHALL BE ESTABLISHED BY 
THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT IN 
CONSULTATION WITH THE SECTORS OBSERVING THE 
"MOST REPRESENTATIVE" ORGANIZATION CRITERIA 
OF ILO CONVENTION NO. 144. 
THE TRIPARTITE INDUSTRIAL PEACE COUNCIL (TIPC) 
SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING FUNCTIONS: 
a. 
TO MONITOR THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION AND 
COMPLIANCE BY CONCERNED SECTORS WITH THE 
PROVISIONS 
OF ALL TRIPARTITE 
INSTRUMENTS, 
INCLUDING 
INTERNATIONAL 
CONVENTIONS 
AND 
DECLARATIONS, CODES OF CONDUCT AND SOCIAL 
ACCORDS; 
b. 
TO PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL, REGIONAL OR 
INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC 
TRIPARTITE 
CONFERENCES 
WHICH THE PRESIDENT OR THE SECRETARY OF 


LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT MAY CALL FROM TIME TO 
TIME; 
c. 
TO REVIEW EXISTING LABOR, ECONOMIC AND 
SOCIAL POLICIES AND TO EVALUATE LOCAL AND 
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS AFFECTING THEM; 
d. 
TO FORMULATE, FOR SUBMISSION TO THE 
PRESIDENT OR TO CONGRESS, TRIPARTITE VIEWS, 
RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROPOSALS ON LABOR, 
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONCERNS, INCLUDING THE 
PRESENTATION 
OF 
TRIPARTITE 
POSITIONS 
ON 
RELEVANT BILLS PENDING IN CONGRESS; 
e. 
TO ADVISE THE SECRETARY OF LABOR AND 
EMPLOYMENT 
IN 
THE 
FORMULATION 
OR 
IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES AND LEGISLATIONS 
AFFECTING LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT; 
f. 
TO SERVE AS A COMMUNICATION CHANNEL 
AND 
A 
MECHANISM 
FOR 
UNDERTAKING 
JOINT 
PROGRAMS 
AMONG 
GOVERNMENT, 
WORKERS, 
EMPLOYERS AND THEIR ORGANIZATIONS TOWARD 
ENHANCING LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS; AND 
g. 
TO ADOPT ITS OWN PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES 
AND 
RULES, 
CONSISTENT 
WITH 
DEVELOPMENT 
OBJECTIVES. 
ALL 
REGIONAL 
TRIPARTITE 
INDUSTRIAL 
PEACE 
COUNCILS (RTIPC) AND THEIR SUBCOMMITTEES AND 
ALL 
INDUSTRY-WIDE 
TRIPARTITE 
COUNCILS, 
WHETHER NATIONAL, REGIONAL OR LOCAL, SHALL BE 
AN 
INTEGRAL 
PART 
OF 
THE 
ORGANIZATIONAL 
STRUCTURE OF THE NTIPC. 
(d) 
THE 
OPERATIONS 
OF 
ALL 
TRIPARTITE 
INDUSTRIAL 
PEACE 
COUNCILS 
AND 
INDUSTRY 
TRIPARTITE COUNCILS SHALL BE FUNDED FROM THE 
REGULAR BUDGET OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 
AND EMPLOYMENT." 


Sec. 2. 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. 3. Separability Clause. - If any part, section or provision of this Act 
shall be held invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions shall not be affected 
thereby. 
Sec. 4. Repealing Clause. - Presidential Decree No. 442, otherwise known 
as the Labor Code of the Philippines, as amended, and all other acts, laws, 
presidential issuances, rules and regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby 
repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
Sec. 5. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of 
national circulation. 
APPROVED,