‘Documentary requirements free for first-time jobseekers’

MANILA, Philippines — Government agencies have waived the fees for pre-employment documents for first-time workers, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said yesterday.

According to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, DOLE and 18 other government agencies have issued the guidelines of the First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act.  

He noted that the policy waives the fees for government-issued documents and clearances for first time jobseekers.  

The policy is expected to benefit around 1.3 million graduates annually who are seeking employment for the first time.

“The measure will definitely lessen the financial burden on first time jobseekers in obtaining their pre-employment documentary requirements and gain decent employment within a shorter period of time,” Bello said.

Meanwhile, DOLE Assistant Secretary Joji Aragon estimated that the program translates to P3 billion foregone government revenues.

“The government looks at this investment to bring double or triple fold returns in achieving a productive human capital and workforce for the nation,” Aragon said.

Under Republic Act 11261, all government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled corporations, local government units and government hospitals, will not collect fees or charges from a first-time jobseeker, in connection with their application for and granting of licenses, proofs of identification, clearances, certificates or other documents usually required in the course of employment locally or abroad.

However, first-time jobseekers may avail themselves of the benefit only once and for only one copy of every document or transaction.

To avail of the benefits, the jobseeker should be a Filipino citizen who is actively seeking employment, locally or abroad, for the first time, as certified by the barangay of which he or she is a resident.

The jobseeker shall secure and present the barangay certification stating that he or she is a first-time jobseeker and a resident of the barangay for at least six months.

The validity of availment of the benefits shall be one year from the issuance of the barangay certificate.

The first-time jobseeker may be a graduate of an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree, a completer of a technical-vocational course, or a high school graduate who has completed the K-12 program.

Also eligible are out-of-school youth, those not employed or engaged in education or training, students taking a leave of absence, or any person intending to work while enrolled in any school, college, university or learning institution.

Covered government transactions include barangay certification and clearance for first-time jobseekers; police clearance; National Bureau of Investigation clearance; medical certificate from public hospitals, except for laboratory tests and other medical procedures that are required in the grant of a medical certificate.

Others are birth and marriage certificate; transcript of academic records, certificate of graduation/completion, and/or diploma issued by state and local universities and colleges; and Taxpayer’s Identification Number.

The guidelines will take effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or in newspapers of general circulation.