Policy and legislative intent
- The State shall promote the welfare of racehorse jockeys by recognizing their special circumstance and the inherent dangers of their profession.
- The Act recognizes that those dangers may cause life-threatening injuries, permanent disability, or death.
- Retirement age of racehorse jockeys must be appropriately adjusted in furtherance of jockey welfare.
Labor Code amendment: retirement rule
- A professional racehorse jockey must be duly licensed by the Philippine Racing Commission (PHILRACOM) to fall under the compulsory retirement rule.
- A professional racehorse jockey must be compulsorily retired upon reaching the age of fifty-five (55) years.
- The racehorse jockey is entitled to all retirement benefits provided for under Article 302 of the Labor Code.
- The Act requires an additional condition: the jockey must pay additional premiums to the Social Security System (SSS) as prescribed in the implementing rules and regulations.
- Nothing in Article 302-A deprives a racehorse jockey of benefits already entitled to under existing laws, company policies, or practices.
Retirement age reduction from 60 to 55
- The Act reduces the retirement age for racehorse jockeys from sixty (60) to fifty-five (55) years.
- Compulsory retirement is tied to reaching the age of fifty-five (55).
- Retirement benefits remain anchored to Article 302 retirement benefits entitlement.
Who implements and issue rules
- DOLE, the SSS, and the PHILRACOM must promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for effective implementation.
- The rules and regulations must be issued in consultation with the New Philippine Jockeys Association, Inc. (NPJAI).
- The implementing rules and regulations must be promulgated within thirty (30) days from its effectivity.
Social Security Act amendment and repeal
- Section 12-B of Republic Act No. 1161 (the Social Security Act of 1997) is amended and modified accordingly.
- The amendment entitles racehorse jockeys to benefits under the Social Security Act of 1997 upon reaching the retirement age of fifty-five (55) years old.
- All other laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules and regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the Act are repealed or modified accordingly.