Employment Regulations
The Labour Code of the Philippines (Labour Code) represents the comprehensive legislation, regulating employment relationships in the Philippines and applies to foreign nationals as well as locals, working in the country.
Applicable labour standards are deemed to be included into all employment contracts, without provisions to fall below the applicable articles of the Labour Code. Accordingly, any contractual term and condition against the labour laws will be considered null and void. Jurisdiction in matters related to modification of the terms and conditions of employment is attributed to Philippine labour arbiters, tribunals and courts.
For these and many other reasons the following are only guidelines in the broadest sense, and professional legal services are recommended when employing in the Philippines.
Key Factors to Consider When Employing in Philippines:
There are several key areas to be aware of within the Philippines’ employment regulatory framework, especially for companies that plan to initiate a full local office and human resources department. These challenges can be mitigated by use of a locally sourced payroll provider who is familiar with all of the local laws and rules for both local employees as well as foreign nationals.
Contract
Under Article 294 of the Labour Code, there are four possible types of employment arrangement:
- Regular employment.
- Project employment.
- Seasonal employment.
- Casual employment.
Employee Entitlements
Working on Sundays
No.
Time Off Work
Annual vacation is dependent on an employee’s years of service with the company.
- 1 year to less than 3 years-10 working days
- 3 years to less than 5 years-12 working days
- 5 years up-15 working days
An approval from the superior must be obtained at least one day in advance.
This reserves the right to call an employee back to work in an emergency case.
Medical Leave
The employee is permitted to take sick leave with pay of no more than 30 days per year and can use this right since starting work with the company.
If taking 3 or more consecutive day’s sick leave, the medical certificate and a sick leave form must be submitted to his/her superior as soon as he/she returns to the office.
The employee is permitted to take sick leave with pay of no more than 60 days per year, if the employee gets an illness or has an accident arising from work.
Female employees are allowed to take 90 days maternity leave (holidays are counted) excluding normal sick leave, but will receive normal salary and/or wages for only 45 days.
Annual Leave Accrual Entitlement
Except some cases, every employee who has worked at least one year is entitled to an annual leave of five days with pay. As a general rule, an employer can regulate the schedule of the annual leave of its employees.
Paid Sick Leave Entitlement
Philippine laws do not automatically grant employees sick leave, although there is nothing that prohibits the employer and employee from agreeing on the grant of sick leave through voluntary employer policy or collective bargaining agreements.
Maternity Leave in Philippines
Every female member of the Social Security System (SSS) who has paid at least three monthly contributions in the 12-month period immediately preceding her childbirth or miscarriage will be paid a daily maternity leave benefit equivalent to 100% of her average salary credit for 60 or 78 days, depending whether is a normal or Cesarean delivery.
- Paternity Leave: Every married male employee, regardless of employment status, is entitled to a paternity leave of seven days with full pay for the first four deliveries of his legitimate spouse with whom he is cohabiting.
- Parental Leave: In addition to leave privileges under existing laws, parental leave of not more than seven working days every year shall be granted to any solo parent employee as defined in the law who has rendered service of at least one year.
Employment Termination
Under Article 282, Title I, Book VI, an employer may terminate an employment for any of the following causes:
- Serious misconduct or wilful disobedience by the employee of the lawful orders of his employer or representative in connection with his work;
- Gross and habitual neglect by the employee of his duties;
- Fraud or wilful breach by the employee of the trust reposed in him by his employer or duly authorized representative;
- Commission of a crime or offense by the employee against the person of his employer or any immediate member of his family or his duly authorized representatives;
- Other causes analogous to the foregoing.
It is possible to terminate the employment agreement also for “authorised causes”, according to Art. 283 and 284.
Under Art. 285, termination from employees can occur when:
- An employee may terminate without just cause the employee-employer relationship by serving a written notice on the employer at least one month in advance. The employer upon whom no such notice was served may hold the employee liable for damages;
- An employee may put an end to the relationship without serving any notice on the employer for any of the following just causes;
- Serious insult by the employer or his representative on the honor and person of the employee;
- Inhuman and unbearable treatment accorded the employee by the employer or his representative;
- Commission of a crime or offense by the employer or his representative against the person of the employee or any of the immediate members of his family;
- Other causes analogous to any of the foregoing.
Probation Period
Before becoming a regular employee, every worker may be required to undergo a probationary period of up to six months, unless it is covered by an apprenticeship agreement, stipulated for a longer period. Whenever the new employee is allowed to work after the lapse of the probationary period, he must be employed with a regular employment contract by law. In case the employer does not notify the employee of the standards that he must satisfy at the beginning of the probationary period, the employment will be deemed a regular employment agreement from the time the employee started working.
Pension Requirements
For Health, Safety and Social Welfare, please consult Book IV of the Labour Code.
