MANILA – First-time Filipino job applicants were now exempted from paying government documents required for employment after President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law the “First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act.”
Based on the Republic Act 11261, government transactions for the following documents will now be free for first-time jobseekers: police clearance, National Bureau of Investigation clearance, barangay clearance, medical certificate from a public hospital, birth certificate, marriage certificate, transcript of records from state colleges and universities, tax identification number, unified multi-purpose ID card, and other government documents required by employers.
However, the law excluded the collection of fees for the application of the following: professional licensure examination, career service examination, driver’s license, Philippine passport, and authentication of documents from the Foreign Affairs department.
“A barangay certification should be presented to prove that a person is a first-time jobseeker,” the law stated. “Any person found guilty of fabrication or falsification shall be liable under the Revised Penal Code.”
Sen. Joel Villanueva, chairman of the Senate committee on labor, employment and human resources development, said the signing of the law was a timely gift for fresh graduates.
With RA 11261, around 1.3-million first-time jobseekers, composed of both fresh graduates and out-of-school youths, were expected to benefit from the law and can save up to ₱2,000.
“Sa bisa po ng First-time Jobseekers Assistance Act, mababawasan na po ang pasanin ng ating mga fresh grads sa mga bayarin para lamang makakuha ng mga dokumento na kailangan sa kanilang job application,” Villanueva said.
“Malaking tulong po ang handog nito sa pagbubukas ng panibagong yugto ng ating fresh grads mula sa kanilang matagumpay na pagtatapos sa eskwelahan patungo sa kanilang job hunting,” added Villanueva. /PN
