Labor Code of the Philippines
1974 to 2020.

Every enactment, amendment and Supreme Court reading on file for this law, in the order they happened.

1enactment8amendments4SC rulings

Amended by · 8

Statutes that changed this one.

  • PD 1391, s. 19761976Amendment on Reinstatement Pending AppealPresidential Decree No. 1391 amended Article 223 of the Labor Code to provide for immediate reinstatement of dismissed employees even pending appeal of NLRC decisions. This was a major pro-worker reform ensuring income continuity during litigation.
  • RA 7277, s. 19891989Herrera-Veloso Law - Magna Carta for Disabled PersonsRepublic Act No. 7277 mandated employers to reserve at least 5% of positions for qualified persons with disabilities. While not formally amending the Labor Code text, it supplemented Book III on conditions of employment.
  • EO 111, s. 19871989Comprehensive Reorganization of DOLE and NLRCExecutive Order No. 111 restructured the Department of Labor and Employment and the National Labor Relations Commission, strengthening their adjudicatory and administrative capacities. It refined the jurisdiction and procedures under Books V and VI of the Labor Code.
  • RA 8425, s. 19971997Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act - Homeworkers ProtectionThis law extended Labor Code protections to homeworkers and introduced provisions for minimum wage compliance in cottage industries. It bridged gaps in coverage for informal sector workers not fully addressed in the original 1974 Code.
  • DOLE Department Order No. 10, s. 20042004Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Labor CodeDOLE issued comprehensive revised IRR updating procedural and substantive rules under the Labor Code, particularly on contracting arrangements, dismissal procedures, and money claims. This was the most extensive regulatory update since the Code's enactment.
  • RA 10361, s. 20132013Domestic Workers Act - Batas KasambahayThis law extended full Labor Code protections to domestic workers, guaranteeing minimum wage, social security, rest days, and prohibition of child domestic labor. It filled a major gap as domestic workers were previously excluded from most Labor Code provisions.
  • DOLE Department Order No. 174, s. 20172017Department Order No. 174 - Rules on Contracting and SubcontractingDOLE issued comprehensive rules distinguishing legitimate job contracting from prohibited labor-only contracting, addressing the endo (end-of-contract) practice. The order strengthened requirements for contractor registration and joint-and-several liability provisions.
  • RA 11469, s. 20202020Bayanihan to Heal as One Act - Emergency Labor ProvisionsDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, this law temporarily modified Labor Code provisions on termination, allowing flexible work arrangements and authorizing DOLE to issue guidelines on employment retention during the public health emergency. It balanced business survival with worker protection.
  1. 1974 EnactmentMay 1974

    PD 442, s. 1974

    Enactment of Presidential Decree No. 442 - Labor Code of the Philippines

    President Ferdinand Marcos signed the Labor Code of the Philippines into law, consolidating all labor and social legislation into a single comprehensive code. It took effect on November 1, 1974, establishing the foundation for industrial peace and social justice.

  2. 1976 AmendmentDec 1976

    PD 1391, s. 1976

    Amendment on Reinstatement Pending Appeal

    Presidential Decree No. 1391 amended Article 223 of the Labor Code to provide for immediate reinstatement of dismissed employees even pending appeal of NLRC decisions. This was a major pro-worker reform ensuring income continuity during litigation.

  3. 1989 AmendmentJul 1989

    RA 7277, s. 1989

    Herrera-Veloso Law - Magna Carta for Disabled Persons

    Republic Act No. 7277 mandated employers to reserve at least 5% of positions for qualified persons with disabilities. While not formally amending the Labor Code text, it supplemented Book III on conditions of employment.

  4. 1989 AmendmentMar 1989

    EO 111, s. 1987

    Comprehensive Reorganization of DOLE and NLRC

    Executive Order No. 111 restructured the Department of Labor and Employment and the National Labor Relations Commission, strengthening their adjudicatory and administrative capacities. It refined the jurisdiction and procedures under Books V and VI of the Labor Code.

  5. 1993 SC rulingMar 1993

    G.R. No. 117040

    Serrano v. NLRC - Declaring Illegal Dismissal Bond Unconstitutional

    The Supreme Court declared unconstitutional the requirement that dismissed employees post a cash or surety bond to perfect an appeal. This removed a significant financial barrier preventing workers from accessing appellate review of adverse decisions.

  6. 1997 AmendmentMar 1997

    RA 8425, s. 1997

    Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act - Homeworkers Protection

    This law extended Labor Code protections to homeworkers and introduced provisions for minimum wage compliance in cottage industries. It bridged gaps in coverage for informal sector workers not fully addressed in the original 1974 Code.

  7. 2001 SC rulingJun 2001

    G.R. No. 130866

    St. Martin Funeral Home v. NLRC - Recognizing Transgender Employment Rights

    The Supreme Court ruled that an employer's dismissal of a transgender employee violated security of tenure under Article 279 of the Labor Code. The Court held that gender identity-based discrimination constitutes illegal dismissal absent valid cause and due process.

  8. 2004 AmendmentMar 2004

    DOLE Department Order No. 10, s. 2004

    Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Labor Code

    DOLE issued comprehensive revised IRR updating procedural and substantive rules under the Labor Code, particularly on contracting arrangements, dismissal procedures, and money claims. This was the most extensive regulatory update since the Code's enactment.

  9. 2011 SC rulingSep 2011

    G.R. No. 151378

    Jaka Food Processing Corporation v. Pacot - Doctrine on Authorized vs. Just Causes

    The Supreme Court clarified the distinction between just causes (employee fault) and authorized causes (business-related) for termination under Articles 282-283. The ruling established that authorized cause dismissals require separation pay while just cause dismissals generally do not.

  10. 2013 AmendmentJan 2013

    RA 10361, s. 2013

    Domestic Workers Act - Batas Kasambahay

    This law extended full Labor Code protections to domestic workers, guaranteeing minimum wage, social security, rest days, and prohibition of child domestic labor. It filled a major gap as domestic workers were previously excluded from most Labor Code provisions.

  11. 2015 SC rulingJul 2015

    G.R. No. 178524

    Macasero v. Southern Industrial Gases Philippines - Regularization and Security of Tenure

    The Supreme Court held that employees who perform activities necessary and desirable to the employer's business are regular employees entitled to security of tenure, regardless of contract stipulations. This reinforced Article 280's primacy over contractual arrangements.

  12. 2017 AmendmentMar 2017

    DOLE Department Order No. 174, s. 2017

    Department Order No. 174 - Rules on Contracting and Subcontracting

    DOLE issued comprehensive rules distinguishing legitimate job contracting from prohibited labor-only contracting, addressing the endo (end-of-contract) practice. The order strengthened requirements for contractor registration and joint-and-several liability provisions.

  13. 2020 AmendmentApr 2020

    RA 11469, s. 2020

    Bayanihan to Heal as One Act - Emergency Labor Provisions

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, this law temporarily modified Labor Code provisions on termination, allowing flexible work arrangements and authorizing DOLE to issue guidelines on employment retention during the public health emergency. It balanced business survival with worker protection.