House approves bill that promotes hiring of seniors

Inquirer file photo/Niño Jesus Orbeta

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has passed on third and final reading a bill promoting the creation of jobs for senior citizens and sparing them from government fees if they’re seeking employment.

House Bill No. 10985, or the Employment Opportunities for Senior Citizens and Private Entities Incentives, passed with 173 affirmative votes during Tuesday’s plenary session.

If enacted, the measure authored by Senior Citizens Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes, Apec Rep. Sergio Dagooc, and Bulacan Rep. Salvador Pleyto Sr. would amend the current law for senior citizens, Republic Act No. 7432, in place in 1992.

READ: Seniors in Manila to get doubled annual allowance starting 2025

It can benefit at least 10 million senior citizens, said Ordanes, the lead author of the bill.

Under the measure, the Department of Labor and Employment is required to provide information and job-matching services to senior citizens who still have the capacity and desire to work.

HB 10985 also makes a list of possible jobs for seniors, including “clerical or secretarial work, consultancy, cleaning or janitorial services, event organizing, teaching, kitchen help, sales assistance, BPOs (business process outsourcing), and other jobs or volunteer works.”

Tax perks

Private companies hiring seniors shall be entitled to an additional deduction from their gross income tax, equivalent to 25 percent of the total amount paid as salaries, benefits, and training for senior citizens.

The proposed law also prohibits all government agencies from charging fees to senior citizens for documents—such as a birth certificate, police clearance, medical certificate—required for their employment.

Ordanes expressed hope that the Senate, which still does not have a counterpart bill, “will adopt HB 10985 in full, with our assurance to all the senators that the House thoroughly did its homework on this bill.”

Speaker Martin Romualdez hailed the passage of the bill, saying “it’s about time we helped ensure automatic employment allocation for Filipinos age 60 years old and above.”

“(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?” Romualdez said.