Policy and protective purpose
- The Bureau is established to enforce and support labor protections for working women and children and to strengthen their welfare, including working conditions and opportunities for employment.
- Section 2 directs the Bureau to help improve efficiency, secure profitable employment, and advance the social, educational and cultural well-being of working women and children.
- Section 2 requires the Bureau to provide government clearing-house functions for information relating to working women and children.
- Section 2 empowers the Bureau to support rule-making and interpretations affecting women and children’s employment, including technical assistance on maternity leave and equal pay claims.
Powers and duties of the Bureau
- Section 2 requires the Bureau to enforce the Woman and Child Labor Law, Republic Act Numbered Six hundred seventy-nine, as amended, and its implementing rules, or any other future laws on the same subject enacted by Congress.
- Section 2 empowers the Bureau to formulate standards and policies for the welfare of working women and children, including improving working conditions and securing opportunities for profitable employment.
- Section 2 directs the Bureau to conduct surveys, studies, or investigations, submit reports to the Secretary of Labor, and publish results in a manner and extent the Secretary of Labor prescribes.
- Section 2 mandates studies and recommendations on the employment of children in factories, shops, commercial, industrial, agricultural and other places of labor establishments.
- Section 2 requires the Bureau to conduct educational and informational activities and provide technical advice on matters relating to working women and children.
- Section 2 requires the Bureau to recommend to the Secretary of Labor rules and regulations and interpretations on legislation regulating employment of women and children, and to provide technical assistance in reviewing cases involving maternity leave and equal pay claims appealed from regional offices to the Labor Standards Commission, where the Director of the Bureau of Women and Minors is a member, together with the Director of the Bureau of Labor Standards and other two associate commissioners.
- Section 2 authorizes the Bureau to perform other duties regarding problems of working women and children as the Secretary of Labor may require.
- Section 2 designates the Bureau to act as the government’s clearing-house for all information relating to working women and children.
Organizational divisions within the Bureau
- Section 3 establishes a research and survey division within the Bureau.
- Section 3 establishes a standards division within the Bureau.
- Section 3 establishes an informational, service and publication division within the Bureau.
- Section 3 establishes a field services and inspection division within the Bureau.
Staffing and employment of personnel
- Section 4 requires Bureau staffing to be subject to the Civil Service Law and regulations.
- The Director may employ technical staff and such other employees as may be necessary to perform the Bureau’s duties and functions.
Inspection, entry, and investigative powers
- Section 5 grants the Director of the Women and Minors Bureau, or her authorized representatives, power to enter any place of employment during office hours where women and children are employed.
- Section 5 authorizes the Director or representatives to require the production of lists, birth certificates, educational certificates, medical certificates, special work permits, and other pertinent books and records.
- Section 5 authorizes the Director or representatives to question any employee in the place of employment.
- Section 5 authorizes investigations of any fact, matter or condition necessary to carry out the powers and duties under the Act.
Budget appropriation and funding
- Section 6 appropriates PHP 50,000 from any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated to carry out the provisions of the Act.
Reorganization and protection of affected personnel
- Section 7 abolishes the Women and Minors Division of the Bureau of Labor Standards.
- Section 7 transfers to the Women and Minors Bureau the abolished Division’s functions, together with its records, equipment, unexpended appropriation, and all personnel in that Division.
- Section 7 also transfers to the Women and Minors Bureau such other personnel as the Secretary of Labor may direct.
- Section 7 prohibits layoffs and pay/rank reduction: no official or employee in the Women and Minors Division shall be laid off, and their salary and/or rank shall not be reduced.
Effectivity and approval
- This Act is approved on June 18, 1960 (Approved, June 18, 1960).
- Section 8 provides that the Act takes effect upon its approval.