Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 11962)
The short title of Republic Act No. 11962 is the "Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act."
The main policy 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 is the State’s master plan on employment generation and recovery designed to realize short-term and long-term employment goals and visions for the country with 3, 6, and 10-year development timelines.
The Act applies to national, regional, and local government units (LGUs), including the Bangsamoro Government and its component LGUs as long as they are consistent with national policies, laws, rules, and regulations.
Key objectives include stimulating economic growth through employment, promoting worker employability and productivity through skills training, supporting MSMEs, and incentivizing employers to provide enterprise-based training such as apprenticeships and on-the-job training.
The TPB-IAC is composed of high-ranking officials from government agencies such as NEDA, DTI, DOLE, TESDA, DBM, DOF, DILG, and representatives from employers’ organizations, labor organizations, marginalized or vulnerable sectors, and informal sector.
The TPB-IAC is tasked to formulate and regularly update the TPB Plan, monitor implementation, analyze labor market situations, align government efforts, assist LGUs in employment programs, craft institutionalization guidelines, and perform other related functions.
The Act includes provisions to support and promote the welfare of workers in freelance, online platform, and gig economy work arrangements to ensure protection and inclusion.
The TPB-IAC must submit semi-annual reports every January and July to the Office of the President, Senate, and House of Representatives covering implementation status, evaluation of policies, recommendations, and other relevant information, which shall also be publicly accessible.
The Act took effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation, following its approval on September 27, 2023.