The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading a bill allowing senior citizens to be employed even after reaching retirement age.
Administration and opposition lawmakers overwhelmingly stamped their approval to House Bill 10985 or the proposed Employment Opportunities for Senior Citizens and Private Entities’ Incentives Ac), voting with an overwhelming 173 affirmative votes during the plenary session.
“Retired or elderly individuals should not just be left to fend for themselves or depend entirely on their monthly pension. It’s about time we help ensure automatic employment allocation for Filipinos aged 60 years old and above,” Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said.
“They (senior citizens) should also be given the opportunity to be given post-retirement careers, like for example doing menial jobs that are not physically strenuous. Let’s allow them to be still productive citizens of the country. If advanced economies can do it, why can’t we?” he added.
Among the authors of the bill are senior citizens themselves, including Reps. Rodolfo Ordanes (Chairman of the Committee on Senior Citizens Affairs), Sergio Dagooc of APEC party list, Salvador Pleyto Sr. of Bulacan 6th District, and Bro. Eddie Villanueva of Citizens Battle Against Corruption party list.
Once signed into law, the said bill will further amend Republic Act 7432 or “An Act to Maximize the Contribution of Senior Citizens to Nation-Building, Grant Benefits, and Special Privileges” signed into law by the late president Cory Aquino in April 1992.
The bill mandates the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) through the Public Employment Service Offices (PESO) to provide information and matching services to senior citizens who have the capacity and desire to work or to be re-employed. It likewise entails a list of possible employment for the elderly, which shall include “clerical or secretarial works, consultancy, cleaning or janitorial services, event organizing, teaching, kitchen help, sales assistance, BPOs, and other jobs or volunteer works.”
“All government agencies and private entities shall institute an employment program that promotes the general well-being of senior citizens and ensure access to employment opportunities to those who have the qualifications, capacity, and interest to be employed,” the bill provided.
Private entities that would employ senior citizens as employees, upon the effectivity of the law will be entitled to an additional deduction from their gross income, equivalent to twenty-five percent (25%) of the total amount paid as salaries, wages, benefits, and training provided to senior citizens.
The proposed law likewise prohibits all government instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled corporations, local government units, and government hospitals from charging fees to senior citizens for documents—such as birth certificates, police clearance, and medical certificates—required for their employment.
