AN ACT INTEGRATING LABOR EDUCATION IN THE TERTIARY EDUCATION CURRICULUM

Eighteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-seventh day of July, two thousand twenty.

[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11551, May 27, 2021 ]

AN ACT INTEGRATING LABOR EDUCATION IN THE TERTIARY EDUCATION CURRICULUM

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1.  Short Title. - This  Act shall  be known  as the  "Labor  Education Act".

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall  afford protection to labor, promote full employment, ensure equal work opportunities regardless of sex, race or creed, and regulate the relations between  workers  and  employers.  It shall  assure  the rights of workers to  self-organization, collective  bargaining, security of tenure, and  just  and  humane conditions  of work.

To this  end,  the  State shall  put  in  place  a  mechanism to educate future workers,  employers,  and  entrepreneurs,  on their  rights  and  responsibilities in promoting  harmony  in the workplace  and  social  progress  in  the  society.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. - As used  in  this  Act, the following terms are  defined  as follows:

Section 4. Integration of Labor Education in Higher Education Curriculum. - All public  and  private  higher education institutions (HEIs) shall integrate  labor education  as part  of an  elective  course;  and  as  far  as  practicable, hold  a Labor Empowerment and  Career  Guidance  conference  which graduating students shall  attend.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED), pursuant to its mandate under  Republic Act No. 7722, otherwise  known as the "Higher Education Act of 1994,"  shall develop  the program  to execute  and  implement this  Act.Section 5. Integration of Labor Education in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Curriculum. - All TVIs offering nondegree certificate and diploma courses ranging from one  (1) to three  (3) years  shall integrate labor  education as  an  elective  course  in  the  TVET curriculum.

TVIs offering short-term courses ranging from one (1) month to less than one (1) year are encouraged to integrate labor education in the modular program of the TVET curriculum.

The Technical Education and  Skills Development Authority  (TESDA), in  partnership with  the  Department  of Labor and Employment (DOLE), shall develop the appropriate modules of instructions and other  relevant  materials relating to labor  education in  TVIs.

Section 6. Curriculum Review. - The coverage and quality of labor  education shall be included in comprehensive curriculum review  to  be conducted  by  the  CHED and  the TESDA

Section 7. Implementing Rules and Guidelines. - Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this  Act, the CHED and the TESDA, in consultation with the DOLE and relevant stakeholders, shall formulate the  rules  and regulations to effectively implement  the  provisions  of this Act.

Section 8. Separability Clause. - Any portion or provisions of this Act that  may be declared  unconstitutional or invalid shall  not have  the effect of nullifying other  portions and provisions hereof  as long as such  remaining portions  or provisions can still subsist and be given effect in their entirety.

Section 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws,  decrees, executive orders,  proclamations and administrative regulations,  or any parts thereof inconsistent  with the provisions of this Act are revoked, repealed  or modified accordingly.

Section 10.  Effectivity. - This Act shall  take  effect fifteen (15) days after  its  publication  in the  Official Gazette or in  a newspaper  of general  circulation.

Approved,

This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 1513 and House Bill No. 4466 was passed by the Senate of the Philippines and the House of Representatives on March 15, 2021.

Approved: MAY 27 2021