Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 11962)
The short title of Republic Act No. 11962 is the "Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act."
The policy of the State under the Act is to afford full protection to labor, promote full, productive and freely chosen employment and livelihood, and ensure equitable employment opportunities for all, regardless of sex, race, color, religion, political opinion, ethnicity, or social origin.
The Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan serves as the State's master plan on employment generation and recovery, to realize short-term and long-term goals and visions for the country, including stimulating economic growth, promoting employability and competitiveness, and supporting MSMEs.
The Act applies to national, regional, and local government units, including LGUs under the Bangsamoro Government consistent with national policies.
Key components include support for MSMEs, skills training and upskilling, incentives for employers offering training, empowerment of workers on their rights, identifying priority sectors for employment, active labor market policies, addressing youth unemployment, and establishing grievance redress mechanisms.
The TPB-IAC is an inter-agency council composed of heads of NEDA, DTI, DOLE, TESDA, DBM, DOF, DILG, representatives from employers' organizations, labor organizations, marginalized or vulnerable sectors, and the informal sector.
The TPB-IAC formulates the TPB Plan, monitors and evaluates its implementation, conducts labor market analyses, reviews policies for alignment with the plan, assists LGUs, crafts guidelines for institutionalization, and performs other functions related to the plan's implementation.
They must collaborate and coordinate with the TPB-IAC to align their policies and programs with the TPB Plan and provide necessary information when requested to achieve the Act's objectives.
The TPB-IAC must submit biannual reports every January and July to the Office of the President, the Senate, and the House of Representatives on the implementation status, policy evaluations, recommendations, and other relevant information.
The Act took effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two newspapers of general circulation, following its approval on September 27, 2023.