First Time Job Seekers Act (R.A 11261)

What’s next after graduation? For almost everyone a job is necessary. That is the only reason why we work hard in school. A stable job to help our family. It’s almost time to return the favor to your parents.

But looking for work for the first time is as stressful as studying. You need a lot of patience, time, and most especially money. The requirements are not a joke. You need a decent amount of pennies in your pocket.

If you are looking for a job for the first time, you may be overwhelmed by the number of documents you need to prepare and submit to potential employers. Not only that, but you also have to pay fees and charges for obtaining these documents from various government agencies and offices. This can be a financial burden for someone who has not yet earned any income from work.

Fortunately, there is a law that aims to help first-time job seekers by waiving the fees and charges for pre-employment requirements. This law is called the First Time Job Seekers Assistance Act, or Republic Act No. 11261, which was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on April 10, 2019.

What is the First Time Job Seekers Act?

The First Time Job Seekers Assistance Act is legislation that seeks to facilitate employment opportunities for Filipino citizens, both locally and abroad, by reducing the financial barriers associated with job applications. 

The law intends to increase the number of Filipinos who can secure jobs and, therefore, boost the employment rate in the country.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the unemployment rate in the Philippines was 8.7% as of April 2019, which translates to about 4.1 million Filipinos who are jobless. The law hopes to address this problem by providing assistance to first-time job seekers, especially those who belong to poor and marginalized sectors of society.

The law principal author and sponsor, Senator Joel Villanueva said that this will help almost 1.3 million Filipinos annually.

Who are considered first-time job seekers?

The law defines first-time job seekers as those who seek employment for the first time after graduating from college, vocational, or technical courses, or high school, or those who plan to work while studying.

These include fresh graduates, out-of-school youth, students, and returning overseas Filipino workers who have no work experience.

To avail of the benefits under the law, first-time job seekers must present a barangay certification stating that they are seeking employment for the first time.

The certification must be issued by the barangay where the applicant resides. Any person who is found guilty of falsifying or fabricating the certification shall be liable under the Revised Penal Code¹.

What are the benefits of the First Time Job Seekers Assistance Act?

The First Time Job Seekers Assistance Act provides that no fees and charges shall be collected from first-time job seekers when obtaining the following pre-employment documents from government agencies and offices:

• Police clearance certificate
• National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance
• Barangay clearance
• Medical certificate from a public hospital (fees and charges for laboratory tests and other medical procedures are not included)
• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate
• Transcript of academic records issued by state colleges and universities
• Tax Identification Number (TIN)
• Unified Multi-Purpose ID (UMID) card
• Other documentary requirements issued by the government that may be required by employers from job applicants

The law also covers other pre-employment documents such as:

• Civil Service Commission Certificate of Eligibility
• PhilHealth ID
• Philippine Overseas Welfare Administration certificates
• Mayor’s clearance issued by the Business Processing and Licensing Office
• Prosecutor’s clearance
• Municipal and regional trial court clearances
• Maritime Industry Authority certificates
• Technical Education and Skills Development Authority national and certificates of competencies (for those who passed the competency assessment)

The law applies to all government agencies and instrumentalities, government-owned and controlled corporations, local government units, and government hospitals.

These entities are required to issue the pre-employment documents for free to first-time job seekers upon presentation of the barangay certification.

How long is the validity of the First Time Job Seekers Assistance Act?

The First Time Job Seekers Assistance Act is valid for one year from the time the first-time job seeker registers with the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) of the city or municipality where he or she resides.

The PESO is responsible for monitoring and recording the number of first-time job seekers who avail of the benefits under the law.

The PESO is also tasked to provide career guidance and employment coaching to first-time job seekers, as well as to facilitate their access to local and overseas job opportunities, skills training programs, and entrepreneurship development programs.

Conclusion

The First Time Job Seekers Assistance Act is a laudable law that can benefit millions of Filipinos who are looking for a job for the first time.

By waiving the fees and charges for pre-employment requirements, the law can help reduce financial barriers and increase the accessibility of employment opportunities for first-time job seekers.

However, the law is not a panacea for the unemployment problem in the country, and it needs to be supported by other measures that address the structural and systemic issues that affect the labor market and the economy.

The law also requires the collaboration and cooperation of various stakeholders, including the government, the private sector, civil society, and the first-time job seekers themselves, to ensure its successful implementation and sustainability.

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