Law Summary
Administrative Supervision and Staffing
- Chairman has exclusive administrative supervision over the Commission, regional branches, personnel, including Labor Arbiters.
- Executive Clerk assists the Commission en banc; Deputy Executive Clerks assist each division.
- Commission Attorneys assist in appellate and adjudicatory duties; their term coincides with Commissioners they serve.
- Commission Attorneys must be Philippine Bar members with at least one year experience in labor-management relations.
- Salaries and benefits of Commission Attorneys correspond to Salary Grade 26; staffing limited to three per office.
- Labor Arbiters are barred from serving concurrently as Commission Attorneys or being detailed to Commissioners' offices.
Headquarters, Branches, and Extension Units
- Divisions 1-6 headquartered in Metropolitan Manila.
- Division 7 located in Cebu City; Division 8 in Cagayan de Oro City.
- The Commission must establish regional branches aligned with Department of Labor and Employment regional offices, subregional branches, and provincial extension units.
- Number of Labor Arbiters shall meet operational efficiency needs.
Appointment and Qualifications
- Chairman and Commissioners must be Philippine Bar members, with 15 years legal practice and at least 5 years labor-management experience.
- Labor Arbiters must be Philippine Bar members with 10 years practice and 5 years labor-management experience.
- Officials serve during good behavior until age 65, removable for cause or incapacity.
- Presidential extension of service up to 70 years possible upon Commission's recommendation.
- President appoints Chairman, Commissioners, and Labor Arbiters; sector nomination relevant for Commissioners' appointments.
- Labor Arbiters appointed upon Commission en banc recommendation and are subject to Civil Service Law.
- Labor Arbiters holding office in their resident region are deemed appointed therein.
- Commission Chairman appoints staff/employees per service needs, subject to Civil Service Law and salary law compliance.
Salaries, Benefits, and Emoluments
- Chairman and Commissioners have rank, salary, allowances, retirement, and benefits equivalent to Presiding Justice and Associate Justices of the Court of Appeals.
- Labor Arbiters receive salaries and benefits equivalent to Judges of the Regional Trial Courts.
- Implementation of salary provisions must not diminish existing salaries or benefits.
Implementation, Separability, and Effectivity
- The establishment of additional divisions is a temporary measure effective for up to three years.
- If any part of the Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, remaining provisions remain unaffected.
- The Act repeals inconsistent provisions of the Labor Code and related laws.
- The Act takes effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or two national newspapers, whichever comes earlier.