Powers and Functions of the Office
- Supervises social amelioration programs in the sugar industry and potentially others.
- Determines and recommends social amelioration programs for rural workers, including fees and methods of collection; subject to Presidential approval.
- Initiates and authorizes research on socio-economic issues affecting rural workers.
- Processes and evaluates socio-economic projects for rural workers for Secretary of Labor’s approval.
- Supervises, regulates, audits implementation and monitors progress of approved projects.
- Engages in income and employment generating projects to promote self-reliance and development among rural workers.
- Coordinates with institutions including international agencies for rural employment, skills training, and placement.
- Offers special assistance for organizing rural workers into unions, cooperatives, and other groupings.
- Registers, regulates, and controls rural workers cooperatives and unions under social amelioration programs.
- Assists displaced or unemployed rural workers in urban areas, supporting skill development for urban employment or re-integration into rural communities.
- Coordinates enforcement of policies protecting rural workers’ welfare and improving working conditions.
- Authorized to receive donations, grants, and assistance domestically and internationally.
- Executes additional functions as assigned by the Secretary of Labor.
Regional and Extension Offices
- Mandates the establishment of regional and other extension offices as deemed appropriate by the Secretary of Labor.
Staffing and Personnel
- Technical staff and other personnel appointed by the Secretary of Labor upon the Executive Director’s recommendation.
- Civil service eligibility and existing salary schedules do not apply to designated highly technical positions within the Office.
Special Project Fund (SPF)
- Creates a Special Project Fund from a fixed levy on sugar production and fees collected under the social amelioration program.
- Funds used exclusively to finance socio-economic projects benefiting rural workers.
- Allows a portion of the fund to be set aside for lending to qualified rural worker borrowers.
- Subject to periodic audit by the Commission on Audit.
Budget and Appropriations
- Office adopts an annual expenditure budget covering personnel, maintenance, operations, and capital outlay.
- Budget may be appropriated from the National Treasury funds not otherwise appropriated.
Implementation and Effectivity
- Secretary of Labor tasked to issue implementing rules and regulations.
- The Decree took immediate effect upon issuance.