A proposed law granting indigent jobseekers a 20 percent discount on fees for government-issued pre-employment documents has been filed in the upper chamber.
“For our kababayans who are struggling to make a living for themselves or their families, the fees for documents they need to submit are an additional burden,” Estrada said Sunday in authoring Senate Bill 47 or the Indigent Job Applicants Discount Act.
“What should have been used for their everyday needs were being used to pay for these clearances and certificates,” he added.
The measure covers clearances issued by the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police, certificate of marriage and certificate of live birth from the Philippine Statistics Authority, and transcript of records and authenticated copy of diploma from state universities and colleges.
Also covered by the bill are medical certificate for local employment from any government hospital licensed by the Department of Health, certificate of civil service eligibility from the Civil Service Commission, national certificate and certificate of competency issued by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and other documentary requirements issued by the government that may be required by employers from indigent job applicants.
Qualified beneficiaries of the proposed bill is based on the criteria set under the Community-Based Monitoring System established under Republic Act 11315 or the “Community-Based Monitoring System Act.”