Age to no longer be a factor in hiring under new law

AN ANTI-AGE discrimination law that will prohibit employers from imposing arbitrary age limitations will soon come into force after Congress approved the measure before it adjourned on Monday.

The Senate adopted the House of Representatives’ version of the bill on May 30, thus eliminating the need for a bicameral conference.

The measure will only need President Aquino’s signature, or he could automatically let it lapse into law in 30 days.

Sen. Pia Cayetano, the bill’s sponsor in the Senate, said in a radio interview she believed Mr. Aquino will sign the measure into law.

The anti-age discrimination bill seeks to promote equal opportunities in employment for everyone, and makes it a policy of the state to promote the employment of individuals on the basis of their abilities, knowledge, skills and qualifications rather than their age.

The bill makes it 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.

It also prohibits the requirement of a declaration of age or birth date in  the application process, and the rejection of an employment application due to an individual’s age.

It makes it unlawful as well to discriminate against an individual in terms of compensation or privileges of employment on account of age, and deny an employee’s promotion due to age.

Forcibly laying off a worker due to advanced age or imposing early retirement on the basis of an employee’s age are also prohibited under the measure. Leila B. Salaverria