FIRST-TIME jobseekers may soon be able to secure government documents needed for employment for free.
President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) 11261 or the First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act on April 10, waiving fees and charges on government documents sought by first-time jobseekers.
"It is the policy of the state to promote full employment and equality of gainful work and opportunities for its citizens," the law read.
"As such, the State shall expand accessibility to government services and provide incentives to improve a first-time jobseeker's access to employment," it added.
Under RA 11261, government agencies are barred from collecting fees or charges from a first-time jobseeker, provided that the fee is in connection with the application of certificates and documents required in seeking employment.
Documents that will be free of charge include police clearance certificate; National Bureau of Investigation clearance; barangay clearance; medical certificate from a public hospital; birth certificate; marriage certificate; transcript of academic records issued by state and college universities; Tax Identification Number; and Unified Multi-Purpose identification cards.
It also covers other documentary requirements issued by the govenrment that may be required by employers from job applicants.
The waiver of fees and charges, however, does not apply to fees collected in connection with an applicant taking a professional licensure examination, application for a Philippine passport; authentication of documents from the Department of Foreign Affairs; application for a Career Service Examination; and application for a driver's license.
The law stresses that first-time jobseekers may avail of the benefit just once.
First-time jobseekers availing of the benefits need to present a barangay certificate stating that he is seeking employment for the first time.
The law directs the Public Employment Service Office in different provinces, cities, and municipalities to assist first-time job applicants in securing requried pre-employment documents from relevant government agencies.
Concerned government agencies are also instructed to maintain and update a roster of all individuals who have been issued documents. The roster will be regularly submitted to the Information and Communications Technology department, which will compile a database of all beneficiaries.
RA 11261 creates an inter-agency committee that will monitor the compliance of the concerned goverment agencies and instrumentalities.
The committee will be chaired by the Labor department. Other members include heads of the Civil Service Commission; departments of Information and Communications Technology, Finance, and Education; the Commission on Higher Education; the National Youth Commission; and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
A copy of the law was released by Palace on Tuesday, May 7. (SunStar Philippines)