|
THE Department of Labor and Employment on Tuesday issued an advisory
clarifying the issuance of work permits and certificates for minors
aged between 15 to 18 years old.
Acting Labor Secretary Arturo Sodusta issued the
advisory in response to numerous queries received by the department
from employers and workers about work certificates and permits for
the employment of minors.
The acting labor chief said the advisory
clarifies that issuance of the Labor department’s certificates to
minors between 15 to 18 years old, before being employed, is not
required by law.
Sodusta added that no employer shall deny minors
the opportunity to seek employment merely on the basis of lacking a
certificate or permit for eligibility to work, as issued by the
Labor department.
The acting labor chief said minors may present a
copy of the department’s advisory to any employer, job provider or
government authority when seeking employment or during employment.
He also explained that the advisory reiterates
that the employment of young persons between 15 to 18 yrs old maybe
allowed subject to the conditions and prohibitions of Republic Act
9231 and the Labor Code.
The advisory that was issued by the labor
department, Sodusta said, is in pursuant to the provisions of the
Labor Code of the Philippines and R.A. 9231, and is consistent with
Department Order No. 65-04.
R.A. 9231, Sodusta said, also defines the work
hours of child workers, which is eight hours a day and in no case
will go beyond 40 hours a week.
As to work at night, that law states that “a
child 15 years of age but not below 18 shall be allowed to work
between 10 in the evening to six in the morning of the following
day.”
The acting labor chief said that department
order no. 65-04, clarifies prohibitions, like the employment of
children in advertisement directly or indirectly promoting alcoholic
beverages, intoxicating drinks, tobacco and its by-products,
gambling and any other form of violence.
The acting labor chief said the advisory also
states that no employer shall hinder the young person’s education
and learning opportunities.
-- Anthony Vargas
|
