PASAY City Rep. Emi Calixto-Rubiano urged the concerned government agencies to hasten the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 10911 which penalizes discrimination in employment on account of age.
“This is just a gentle appeal to all concerned agencies. I am hoping that the IIR for this very important law will be immediately available and soon be out for its implementation because that is the missing link right now,” said Rubiano, one of the principal authors of RA 10911.
The law was a product of 10 measures in the 16th Congress that lapsed into law last July 21.
Rubiano, on her third and last term this 17th Congress, said her proposal seeks to promote equal opportunities in employment for everyone and support employment of individuals on the basis of their abilities, knowledge, skills and qualifications rather than their age.
“Age discrimination is a reality in the Philippines and most often, the age ceiling is 40 years old. This [law] effectively bans employers against discriminating qualified and physically able job applicants who are in their 40s, 50s, and 60s,” she said.
She said the government should assist the elderly on their desire to return to work through programs such as job matching, similar to Hong Kong where physically able senior citizens are given priority to work.
“I will continue to ensure that this [law] will be properly and strictly implemented and that the welfare of our elderly will always be protected,” she stressed.
The law declares unlawful for employers to publish, in any form of media including the internet, job wanted ads that would suggest a preference, limitation, specification, or discrimination based on age and prohibits the declaration of age or birth date in the application process as a requirement, and the rejection of an employment application due to applicants’ age.
The law also prohibits forced laying off a worker due to advanced age or imposing early retirement on the basis of an employee’s age.
Under the law, employers who violate will face a fine from P50,000 to P500,000, or imprisonment of up to two years.
While Congress has passed laws that prohibit discrimination on account of gender such as Magna Carta for Women and Anti Violence Against Women Act, Calixto-Rubiano lamented that it has not passed any legislation prohibiting discrimination on account of age until her proposal became a law last week.
“This will serve as a safeguard for our qualified elderly persons from those who will refuse employment in their companies due to age reason,” Rubiano said.