In the Philippines, job seekers usually have to shell out cash just to get government-issued documents, which are required by most companies. But a new law is about to change that, at least for those looking for work for the first time.
President Rodrigo Duterte has signed Republic Act 11261 or the First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act, which makes it possible for first-time job seekers to secure government documents without paying a centavo. Duterte signed it on April 10, but it was only announced to the media today.
Senator Josel Villanueva, the principal author of the law, said that applicants pay as much as PHP2,000 (US$38.50) just to obtain government documents, reported GMA News.
According to a statement on the Senate’s website, first-time job seekers will not be required to pay the application fee for the following documents:
- Police clearance
- Barangay (village) clearance
- Medical certificates from government clinics and hospitals
- National Bureau of Investigation clearance
- Birth certificates
- Marriage certificates
- Tax Identification Number (TIN)
- Transcript of records from state universities and colleges
- Unified Multi-Purpose ID card (UMID)
The benefit can only be used once, of course.
Before they could enjoy this benefit however, job seekers have to show a barangay certification to prove that it’s their first time to look for a job. Aside from new graduates, the law will also apply to out-of-school youths.
Government agencies involved in the issuance of the documents will keep an annual list of people who have made use of the waiver. This list will then be submitted to the Department of Information and Communication Technology, which will create a database that could be accessed by other government offices.
However, the application fees for the following are not waived: Philippine passport, professional licensure examination, the authentication of documents from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Career Service Examination, and driver’s license, reported ABS-CBN News.
About 1.3 million people are expected to benefit from the new law each year.
