First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Republic Act No. 11261 (First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act)

Title and Policy
• The Act is known as the "First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act" (Section 1).
• It aims to promote full employment and equal opportunities for citizens by improving access to employment for first-time jobseekers (Section 2).

Waiver of Fees and Charges
• Government agencies, GOCCs, LGUs, and government hospitals shall not collect fees or charges from first-time jobseekers for licenses, IDs, clearances, certificates, or other documents required for employment locally or abroad (Section 3).
• The benefit can only be availed once (Section 3).

Covered Documents
• The following documents are covered (Section 4):
- Police clearance certificate
- NBI clearance
- Barangay clearance
- Medical certificate from a public hospital (except fees for lab tests and procedures)
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate
- Transcript of academic records from state colleges and universities
- Tax Identification Number (TIN)
- Unified Multi-Purpose ID (UMID) card
- Other government-issued documents required by employers

Proof of Eligibility
• First-time jobseekers must present a barangay certification stating they are a first-time jobseeker (Section 5).
• Falsification or fabrication is punishable under the Revised Penal Code (Section 5).

Database Maintenance
• Government agencies shall maintain and update a roster of beneficiaries (Section 6).
• The roster shall be submitted to the DICT, which will compile a database accessible to relevant agencies (Section 6).

One Stop Shop
• Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) shall assist first-time jobseekers in securing required pre-employment documents (Section 7).

Exceptions
• The waiver does not cover fees for (Section 8):
- Professional licensure examinations by the Professional Regulation Commission
- Philippine passport authentication and red ribbon from the Department of Foreign Affairs
- Career Service Examination with the Civil Service Commission
- Driver's license from the Land Transportation Office

Non-Authority to Charge Fees
• The Act does not grant agencies the authority to impose or collect charges and fees if no such authority is already granted under their respective charters or other relevant laws (Section 9).

Exclusion of Jobstart Program Applicants
• Beneficiaries of the Jobstart Program under Republic Act No. 10869 and other laws that give similar exemptions are not qualified to avail of the benefits of this Act (Section 10).

Interpretation in Favor of the Applicant
• Any ambiguity in the interpretation of the Act shall be in favor of the applicant (Section 11).
• Unduly restrictive regulations that render the benefits nugatory shall constitute an administrative offense punishable under the Administrative Code and other pertinent laws (Section 11).

Interagency Monitoring Committee
• An interagency committee is created, chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment, to monitor compliance and recommend filing of administrative complaints against non-compliant persons (Section 12).

Implementing Rules and Regulations
• The Secretary of Labor and Employment shall issue the appropriate implementing rules and regulations within 60 days from the effectivity of the Act, in consultation with the DICT and other concerned agencies (Section 13).

Separability Clause and Repealing Clause
• If any provision is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions shall not be affected (Section 14).
• All laws, decrees, orders, ordinances, rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are repealed or modified accordingly (Section 15).

Effectivity
• The Act shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation (Section 16).