Title
Expansion of the Special Program for Employment of Students
Law
Republic Act No. 9547
Decision Date
Apr 1, 2009
Republic Act No. 9547 amends the Special Program for Employment of Students in the Philippines, allowing poor but deserving students aged 15 to 25 to be employed by entities with at least ten employees, with specific guidelines on employment period, payment scheme, and penalties for non-compliance.
A

Salary Payment and Voucher System

  • Employer pays 60% of the student's salary or wage in cash.
  • Government pays 40% in education vouchers used for tuition fees and books.
  • Local Government Units (LGUs) may assume full salary payment responsibility.
  • Education vouchers are paid to educational institutions within 30 days of presentation.
  • Vouchers are non-transferable except under death or justifiable cause, where they may be transferred to siblings or heirs.

Implementing Agencies and Program Leadership

  • Secretaries of Labor and Employment, Education, Budget and Management, Social Welfare and Development, Commission on Higher Education Chairman, and Secretary of Finance tasked with issuing implementing rules and regulations.
  • Secretary of Labor and Employment designated as Program Chairman.

Penalties for Non-Compliance and Fraud

  • Refusal to honor education vouchers or submission of fraudulent claims punishable by imprisonment from six (6) months to one (1) year and fines of not less than P10,000.
  • Criminal liability extends to managing partners, general managers, or CEOs in partnerships or corporations.
  • Additional prosecution possible under other penal laws.

Funding and Appropriations

  • Program included in the Department of Labor and Employment's operational programs.
  • Appropriations authorized from the General Appropriations Act starting 1992 and subsequent years.
  • Congressional mandate not to reduce appropriations below previous year’s amount.
  • Annual appropriation to increase by at least 20%.

Separability Clause

  • Invalidity or unconstitutionality of any provision or its application to any person does not affect the remainder of the Act or other applications.

Repealing Clause

  • Inconsistent laws, orders, issuances, rules, and regulations are repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

Effectivity

  • Act takes effect 15 days after complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two newspapers of national circulation, whichever occurs earlier.

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