REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11551 AN ACT INTEGRATING LABOR EDUCATION IN THE TERTIARY EDUCATION CURRICULUM May 27, 2021

SECTION 1. ShortTitle.- This  Act shall  be known  as the  "Labor  Education Act".

SEC. 2.DeclarationofPolicy.- 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.

SEC. 3.DefinitionofTerms.- As used  in  this  Act, the following terms are  defined  as follows:

(a) TertiaryEducationCurriculumrefers  to the  general education curriculum designed  for students taking up coursesinhigher education  institutions (HEIs) leading  to a degree and nondegree diploma and  certificate courses in technical­ vocational  institutions (TVIs); and

(b) LaborEducationrefers to the  teaching of basic knowledge on labor rights and  other skills relating to negotiation,  fostering smooth interpersonal relations in the workplace, and mechanisms for redress of grievances and otherconcerns.

SEC. 4.IntegrationofLaborEducation inHigher EducationCurriculum.- 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), pursuanttoits 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.SEC. 5.IntegrationofLaborEducationinTechnicaland VocationalEducationandTraining(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.

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.

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

SEC. 7.ImplementingRulesandGuidelines.- Withinsixty(60)days from the effectivity of this  Act, the CHED and the TESDA, in consultation with theDOLEand relevant stakeholders, shall formulate the  rules  and regulations to effectively implement  the  provisions  of this Act.

SEC. 8.SeparabilityClause.-Anyportion 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.

SEC. 9.RepealingClause.-Alllaws,  decrees, executive orders,  proclamations and administrative regulations,  or any parts thereof inconsistent  with the provisions of this Act are revoked, repealed  or modified accordingly.

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

Approved,

   
 

(SGD.)LORD ALLAN JAY Q. VELASCO        Speaker of the House of Representatives

(SGD.)VICENTE C. SOTTO III        President of the Senate

This ActwhichisaconsolidationofSenateBillNo.1513 andHouseBillNo.4466waspassedbytheSenateofthe PhilippinesandtheHouseofRepresentativesonMarch15,2021.

 

   
 

(SGD.)MARK LLANDRO L. MENDOZA        Secretary General House of Representatives

(SGD.)MYRA MARIE D. VILLARICA        Secretary of the Senate

 

Approved: MAY 27 2021