Legal basis and declared mandate
- Executive Order No. 172 is issued by the President of the Philippines by virtue of the powers vested in me by law.
- Executive Order No. 172 declares a long-felt need to coordinate, improve, and harmonize laws, judicial precedents, and administrative policies and regulations on labor-management relations.
- Executive Order No. 172 directs the adoption of a progressive and all-encompassing Labor Code, guided by the constitutional mandate for social justice and protection of labor.
- Executive Order No. 172 identifies an urgent need for systematic adjustment of policies and procedures affecting government agencies, labor unions, work standards, employment, regulations, judicial remedies, compensation affecting farm and industrial workers, agrarian lessees, and government employees, including remedial legislative measures.
Scope of the Committee’s work
- Executive Order No. 172 authorizes the Labor Code Committee to study, examine, and harmonize existing labor laws, policies, and regulations.
- Executive Order No. 172 requires the Committee to submit recommendations for amendment, revision, and codification of labor and social legislation in the Philippines.
- Executive Order No. 172 centers the Committee’s work on labor-management relations and related labor and social legislation.
Composition and membership
- Executive Order No. 172 creates a Committee composed of the following members:
- The Presiding Judge of the Court of Industrial Relations serves as Chairman.
- Mr. Vicente A. Rafael serves as a Member.
- The Executive Judge of the Court of Agrarian Relations serves as a Member.
- A Representative of the Department of Justice serves as a Member.
- A Representative of the Department of Labor serves as a Member.
- The appointment and roles stated for Mr. Vicente A. Rafael include President and General Counsel, Philippine Labor Unity Movement; Labor Director, National Apprenticeship Council; Labor Representative L-M Advisory Council.
Meetings and power to obtain support
- Executive Order No. 172 provides that the Committee shall meet at the call of the Chairman.
- Executive Order No. 172 authorizes the Chairman to call upon any department, bureau, office, agency, or instrumentality of the government for information and assistance needed by the Committee.
- Executive Order No. 172 authorizes the Committee to secure personnel, funds, and equipment as may be assigned or allotted to enable it to carry out its undertaking.
- Executive Order No. 172 treats the undertaking as one the administration is determined to accomplish.
Reporting deadline and delivery to the President
- Executive Order No. 172 requires the Committee to submit its report and recommendations to the President.
- Executive Order No. 172 sets the submission timing as before the opening of the regular session of Congress.