Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ______ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
Eduardo ‘Bro. Eddie’ C. Villanueva 
AN ACT PROVIDING PROTECTION TO FREELANCERS 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The current rise in technological advancement, coupled with the 
changing paradigms and standards in employment, causes an upsurge in 
one sector of the country’s labor force: the freelancers. In fact, according 
to a recent study done for the University of the Philippines School of Labor 
and Industrial Relations (UP-SOLAIR), the Philippines ranks 3rd in terms 
of online freelancing in the world, only next to the United States and India.1 
Based on latest available data, Filipino freelancers are pegged at 
1.5 million. And, with the more varied and flexible job opportunities 
freelancing offers, this number is expected to balloon in the next years. 
And so are the challenges that come with this nature of employment. 
1 2018, August 16. Rise of Freelance Work Force by Rene E. Ofreneo. Retrieved from 
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2018/08/16/rise-of-freelance-work-force/ on 2019, July 29.
July 21, 2022
4:21 am
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While freelancing gives Filipinos more choices in terms of the 
number of projects they want to engage in (both locally and 
internationally), their work environment, and terms of employment, it also 
somehow leaves freelancers without a choice in some crucial aspects. 
These include, but are not limited to, the following: existence of contract, 
standard fees, schedule of payments, and other benefits a regular job 
affords. 
This bill aspires to address the gaps in our labor laws to protect the 
burgeoning number of Filipino freelancers. This bill mandates the client 
and the freelance worker to enter into a written contract that specifies 
all the services that the freelance worker is expected to render, his/her 
compensation, as well as other relevant terms and conditions of the 
engagement. This bill also prohibits contract alterations, including the 
arbitrary reduction of fees. 
In addition, this bill seeks to lay out the minimum rights of 
freelancers including right to just compensation, right to safe and 
healthy working conditions, right to self-organize and collectively 
bargain, and right to education and skills training, among others. 
Finally, this measure clearly delineates the roles of different 
government agencies (e.g., DOLE, DICT, TESDA, BIR and PhilHealth) 
to ensure that the rights of freelancers provided under the bill are 
realized. 
The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ______ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
Eduardo ‘Bro. Eddie’ C. Villanueva 
AN ACT PROVIDING PROTECTION TO FREELANCERS 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
1 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
2 
3 
SECTION 1. Short Title. –  This Act shall be known as the 
4 
"Freelancers Protection Act." 
5 
6 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to 
7 
promote gainful employment and decent work for all workers.  Towards 
8 
this end, the State shall provide a regulatory framework that guarantees 
9 
full protection to all workers in new forms of work arrangements, such as 
10 
freelance work, whether in-person or through online platforms or gig 
11 
economy, which has grown exponentially with technological development, 
12 
weakening labor rights and changing concepts of work and employer-
13 
employee relationship. 
14 
15 
SECTION 3. Coverage. – This Act shall cover all freelancers, 
16 
regardless of the profession, talent, skills, task, work or service required 
17 
or to be rendered. 
18 
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1 
SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. –  As used in this Act, the 
2 
following terms shall mean: 
3 
 
4 
a) 
Client - refers to any foreign or Philippine-based person, 
5 
company or entity, or platform provider who engages a freelancer to 
6 
render specific task, work or service in-person or online; 
7 
 
b) 
Crowdwork - refers to online work through platforms that 
8 
connect vast numbers of clients, organizations, and businesses, 
9 
often across borders. It is performed online by an infinite number of 
10 
workers for clients spread over large geographic distance; 
11 
c) 
Freelance worker or freelancer - refers to any natural person 
12 
who offers or renders a task, work or service through his or her freely 
13 
chosen means or methods, free from any forms of economic 
14 
dependence, control or supervision by the client, regardless of 
15 
whether he or she is paid by results, piece, task, hour, day, job or by 
16 
the nature of the services required; 
17 
 
18 
d) 
Freelance work - refers to work that is infrequent, 
19 
unpredictable and short term, and rendered in-person, online, or 
20 
through any online web platforms, such as crowdwork, work on-
21 
demand or any digital lifestyle applications; 
22 
 
23 
e) 
Platform provider - refers to any foreign or Philippine-based 
24 
online web platform provider that connects workers with the 
25 
consumer of work and facilitate the exchange of goods and services 
26 
for money such as crowdwork, work on-demand or any digital lifestyle 
27 
applications, that provides facilities, accounts, and training for one or 
28 
several freelancers in the Philippines; 
29 
 
30 
f) 
Work on-demand - refers to the platform-facilitated yet place-
31 
based and geographically limited work; 
32 
 
33 
g) 
Written contract - refers to a document, whether electronic file 
34 
or printed copy, reflecting the mutual consent of the parties to be 
35 
bound by the terms and conditions of their freelance work 
36 


engagement and the consideration for the services rendered by the 
1 
freelancer.  
2 
 
3 
SECTION 5. Contractual Relations. – The relationship between the 
4 
client and the freelancer, absent proof of existence of employer-employee 
5 
relationship, shall be governed primarily by applicable civil and 
6 
commercial laws.  In no case however, shall the terms and conditions 
7 
thereof derogate the rights of workers guaranteed by the Philippine 
8 
Constitution or be lower than the minimum standards provided by the 
9 
Labor Code of the Philippines, as amended, or by industry standards and 
10 
international labor standards.  
11 
 
SECTION 6. Rights of Freelancers. – The State shall accord to 
12 
freelancers all the rights of workers guaranteed under the 1987 Philippine 
13 
Constitution, applicable provisions of the Labor Code of the Philippines, 
14 
as amended, and relevant international human rights instruments and 
15 
international labor standards. For this purpose, the State shall ensure the 
16 
formulation by concerned agencies of policies and programs for the free 
17 
exercise of the following: 
18 
 
19 
(a) 
Right to a written contract or agreement; 
20 
 
21 
(b) 
Right to just compensation and equal remuneration for work 
22 
of equal value without manipulation or distinction of any kind; 
23 
  
24 
(c) 
Right to safe and healthy working conditions; 
25 
 
26 
(d) 
Right to self-organization and to collectively negotiate with the 
27 
government, the client, and other entities for the promotion of their 
28 
welfare and in the advancement of their rights and interests; 
29 
 
30 
(e) 
Right to be free from any form of discrimination, violence, 
31 
sexual harassment, and abuse;  
32 
 
33 
(f) 
Right to representation and participation in policy and 
34 
decision-making processes and social dialogue;  
35 
 
36 


(g) 
Right to access their own data, information and resources for 
1 
the promotion and protection of their rights and welfare; 
2 
 
3 
(h) 
Right to affordable and adequate financial services, including, 
4 
among others, collateral-free and gender-balanced credit at low 
5 
interest; 
6 
 
7 
(i) 
Right to education and skills training; 
8 
 
9 
(j) 
Right to social protection and social welfare benefits; and 
10 
 
11 
(k) 
Right to speedy redress of grievances, including alternative 
12 
dispute resolution processes. 
13 
 
14 
SECTION 7. Standards for Freelance Work. – The Department of 
15 
Labor and Employment (DOLE) shall ensure: 
16 
 
17 
a) 
Compliance with the written contract between the freelancer 
18 
and the client, which shall be in a language understood by both 
19 
parties. Each party to the contract shall retain a copy thereof, and 
20 
shall include, at the minimum, the following: 
21 
 
22 
1) Itemization of all work and/or services to be provided by the 
23 
freelancer and the terms and conditions of the engagement; 
24 
 
25 
2) The rate and method of compensation, date on which the 
26 
client shall pay the compensation or the mechanism by which 
27 
such due date shall be determined; 
28 
 
29 
3) The name and registered address of the client, and in the case 
30 
of a foreign or foreign-based entity, the name and address of the 
31 
local agent or representative, or any duly acknowledged 
32 
representative based in the Philippines; and  
33 
 
34 
4) Any other terms and conditions that govern the performance 
35 
of the mutual obligations of the parties that are not contrary to 
36 
law, morals, good customs, public order or public policy. 
37 
 
38 


In the absence of a written agreement, any written exchange or proof 
1 
of submission and receipt of completed task, work or service subject 
2 
of the freelance work engagement, whether electronic or printed, 
3 
shall be sufficient basis for claim for compensation or payment 
4 
against the client; 
5 
 
6 
b) 
Registration of freelancers or freelancers’ association in the 
7 
DOLE registry of freelancers and provide them with labor market 
8 
interventions and assistance; Provided, That registration with the 
9 
DOLE shall not be construed as a requirement to be able to engage 
10 
as a freelancer;  
11 
 
12 
c) 
Free exercise of freelancers’ right to self-organization and to 
13 
collectively negotiate with the government, the client, and other 
14 
entities for the promotion of their welfare and in the advancement of 
15 
their rights and interests, and to their representation and participation 
16 
in policy and decision-making processes and social dialogue;  
17 
 
18 
d) 
Observance of programs and policies on non-discrimination, 
19 
absence of violence, sexual harassment, and abuse in freelance 
20 
work environment;  
21 
 
22 
e) 
Entering into bilateral or multilateral agreements with 
23 
countries where online web platforms are registered or located for the 
24 
protection and enforcement of Philippine freelancers’ rights. 
25 
 
26 
SECTION 8. Right to access their own data and information. – 
27 
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) 
28 
shall conduct trainings for online freelancers, and in coordination with the 
29 
appropriate regulatory agency, such as the National Privacy Commission 
30 
(NPC) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), ensure that 
31 
freelancers engaged with or through platform providers or online web 
32 
platforms shall have access to their own data, information and resources 
33 
for the promotion and protection of their rights and welfare. 
34 
 
35 
SECTION 9. Right to affordable and adequate financial services. 
36 
– The DTI and other government financial institutions shall provide 
37 
freelancers access to affordable and adequate financial services, 
38 


including, among others, collateral-free and gender-balanced credit at low 
1 
interest. 
2 
 
3 
SECTION 10. Right to education and skills training. – The 
4 
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and other 
5 
government agencies, such as the Department of Science and 
6 
Technology (DOST), DTI and DICT shall provide training and 
7 
certifications for upskilling and entrepreneurial enhancement of 
8 
freelancers. 
9 
 
10 
SECTION 11. Right to social protection and social welfare 
11 
benefits. – The Social Security System, Philippine Health Insurance 
12 
Corporation (PhilHealth) and Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) 
13 
shall ensure a simplified and online registration and remittance process 
14 
for freelancers as self-employed workers and provide easy access to 
15 
members’ benefits such as sickness and unemployment benefits. 
16 
 
17 
SECTION 12. Right to simplified tax registration, filing and 
18 
payment system. – The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) shall simplify 
19 
and automate the registration process and minimize the requirements for 
20 
the registration of freelancers. The BIR shall also further enhance the 
21 
online filing of tax returns and payment of appropriate taxes, including 
22 
online submission of requirements.  It shall also provide assistance to 
23 
freelancers in their application, registration, and processing of documents, 
24 
and other inquiries. 
25 
 
26 
SECTION 13. Right to redress of grievances, including 
27 
alternative dispute resolution processes. –  The right of freelancers to 
28 
seek redress for grievances and to avail of alternative dispute 
29 
mechanisms in accordance with law shall be guaranteed. For this 
30 
purpose, the DOLE shall conduct seminars on the legal recourses 
31 
available to freelancers, and as far as practicable, encourage the parties 
32 
to a freelance work agreement to avail of alternative dispute mechanisms.  
33 
 
34 
SECTION 14.  Payment; Burden of Proof.  – Except as otherwise 
35 
provided under the contract entered into by the parties, the agreed 
36 
compensation shall be paid in full not later than thirty (30) days after the 
37 


completion of the task, work or service subject of the freelance work 
1 
engagement.   
2 
 
3 
The burden of proving the payment of the compensation or 
4 
consideration due to the freelancer as agreed under the contract shall rest 
5 
on the client, upon proof of performance or completion of the job or service 
6 
contracted.   
7 
 
8 
SECTION 15.  Prohibited Acts. –  The following acts shall be 
9 
prohibited under this Act:  
10 
 
11 
a) 
Contract Alteration. Once performance of the work or 
12 
service under the contract has commenced, no freelancer shall be 
13 
required to accept less than the specified or agreed contract price, as 
14 
a condition for the payment of the service or work rendered: Provided, 
15 
That nothing herein precludes the parties from arriving at a settlement 
16 
in good faith of a dispute arising out of or in connection with the 
17 
contract or from agreeing to a modification of the contract in 
18 
accordance with applicable laws. 
19 
 
20 
b) 
Deduction. No deduction shall be made on the agreed 
21 
contract price or compensation, unless the parties have agreed 
22 
otherwise, or such deduction is on account of payment of applicable 
23 
taxes.  
24 
 
25 
c) 
Waiver. Except as otherwise provided by law, any provision 
26 
of any contract entered into by a freelancer and a client purporting to 
27 
waive any of the rights provided under this Act shall be void as 
28 
against public policy. 
29 
 
30 
 
Any person who commits any of the foregoing prohibited acts shall 
31 
be meted a fine equivalent to up to three times the contract price or 
32 
compensation agreed upon in the contract between the freelancer and the 
33 
client.  
34 
 
35 
 
SECTION 16. Public Awareness Program. – The DOLE, DTI, DICT 
36 
and other relevant agencies shall raise public awareness on the rights and 
37 
welfare of freelancers.  Information dissemination on the provisions of this 
38 


Act, its implementing rules and regulations and capacity building on 
1 
reasonable pricing of task, work or service, payment methods, 
2 
entrepreneurship and career development in freelance work shall also be 
3 
conducted.  
4 
 
5 
SECTION 17. Prospective Application. – This Act shall apply to 
6 
contracts or agreements entered into on or after the effectivity of this Act. 
7 
 
8 
SECTION 18. Applicability to Freelancers in the Public Sector. 
9 
– The Civil Service Commission shall issue the appropriate rules and 
10 
regulations applicable to freelancers in the public sector to ensure 
11 
compliance with the rights and privileges granted to freelancers under this 
12 
Act, subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations governing workers 
13 
in the public sector. 
14 
 
15 
SECTION 19. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within 
16 
sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the DOLE, DTI, DICT, 
17 
DOST, TESDA, DOTr, upon consultation with the BIR, SSS, PhilHealth 
18 
and HDMF, and other relevant agencies and sectors, shall promulgate the 
19 
implementing rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the 
20 
provisions of this Act. 
21 
 
22 
SECTION 20. Separability Clause. – If any part of this Act shall be 
23 
held unconstitutional or invalid, other parts not otherwise affected thereby 
24 
shall remain in force and effect. 
25 
 
26 
SECTION  21. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, resolutions, 
27 
orders, or ordinances or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby 
28 
repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
29 
 
30 
SECTION 22. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
31 
days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
32 
newspapers of general circulation. 
33 
 
34 
Approved, 
35