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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
S E N A T E  
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i 5 MAY 30 P5:39 
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Senate Bill No. 
2029 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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Article 129 of the Labor Code, as amended, provides1 that when the 
aggregate money claims of an employee or house helper atnounts to Five 
Thousand Pesos (P5,OOO.OO) or below, the matter involving the recovery of 
wages and other monetary claims and benefits, including legal interest, owing to 
an employee or person employed in domestic or household sedice, arising from 
employer-employee relations, except when it includes a claim fo! reinstatement., 
shall be heard and decided by the Regional Director of the Dep rtment of Labor 
(NLRC) has the jurisdiction over the labor-related claims. 
Operating under this provision, the claimants of P5,OOO.OO and above are 
suffering unnecessary delays due to the distance of NLRC Offices. Apart from 
this fact, cases are continually piling up in NLRC beyond the1 capacity of the 
institution resulting to more pending cases, more petitioners baiting for their 
and Employment (DOLE). Otherwise, the National Labor Relati 8 ns Commission 
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claims, and most significantly, more time being wasted. 
To be able promote efficiency especially in this concern here money is 
involved, this bill proposes to remove the P5,OOO ceiling in the 
of claims 
that will be attended by the DOLE Regional Offices which will result to the 
transfer the jurisdiction solely to them. Through this amendment, the offices 
rendering the needed services will be more accessible and thd process will be 
improved. It will not only enhance the efficiency and services bf the institution 
but will also result to prompt service will be delivered to the public, 
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Apart from the above amendment, the bill also proposes \he relocation of 
the jurisdiction of labor arbiters in handling all money claims, d t h  exception, to 
reduce the inflow of cases to the NLRC. 
This bill aims to expedite the administration and enforcement of cases 
involving recovery of wages, money claims and other benefits. In effect, not only 
will there be a speedy disposition of labor-related cases but the claimants, as 
well as their dependents, can anticipate a better and more responsive service 
from the institution. 
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The approval of this measure is earnestly sought. 


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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
5 NAY 30 ?5 39 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
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G ;, 
S E N A T E  
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BY: 
Senate Bill No. 202.9 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
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AN ACT 
DEFINING THE JURISDICTION OF LABOR CASES BETWEEN THE 
NATIONAL LABOR RELATION COMMISSION AND THE REGIONAL 
OFFICES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT, 
AMENDING 
FOR 
THIS 
PURPOSE, 
ARTICLES 
129 AND 
217 OF 
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE FOUR HUNDRED FORTY TWO (PD 442), AS 
AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LABOR CODE OF THE 
PHILIPPINES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of d e  Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION I .  Article 129 of the Labor Code is hereby further amended, to 
Art. 129. Recovery of wages, simple money claims and 
other benefits. - Upon complaint of any interested party, the 
Regional Director of the Department of Labor and Emploiment or 
any of the duly authorized hearing officers of the Dep’artment, 
REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT OF CLAIM, is empowered 
through summary proceedings and after due notice, to Hear and 
decide any matter involving the recovery of wages and other 
monetary claims and benefits, including legal interest, owing to an 
employee or person employed in domestic or household service 
or household helper under this Code, arising from employer- 
employee relations: Provided, That such complaint dbes not 
include a claim for reinstatement; [Provided fuflher, that the 
does 
not exceed five thousand pesos (P5,000.00).] 
X X X 
read as follows: 
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aggregate money claims of each employee or househelp,er 
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SEC. 2. Article 217 (a) (6) of the Labor Code is hereby fuhher amended 
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to read as follows: 
Art. 217. Jurisdiction of Labor Arbiters and the Commidsion. 
(a) X X X  
1. x x x  
2. x x x  
3. x x x  
4. x x x  


5. x x x  
6. Except claims for Employees Compensation, Social 
Security, Medicare and maternity benefits, all other 
claims, arising from, employer-employee relations, 
including those of persons in domestic or household 
service, involving [an amount exceeding five thousand 
pesos (P5,OOO.OO) regardless of 
whether] ALL 
MONETARY CLAIMS accompanied with a claim for 
reinstatement. 
(b) X X X  
(c) x x x  
SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, acts, decrees, executive orders, 
rules and regulations or other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent 
with this Act, are hereby modified and repealed. 
SEC. 4. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) 
days following its publication in two (2) national newspapers of general 
circulation. 
Approved,