Lakas-CMD files ‘Ginhawa sa Paghahanap ng Trabaho’ bill

MANILA – The Lakas–Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), led by Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, has filed the “Ginhawa sa Paghahanap ng Trabaho Act,” a measure aimed at making job hunting easier and more accessible for applicants.

The measure seeks to particularly help first-time job seekers and young Filipinos who often spend days lining up for clearances, photocopying documents, and repeatedly submitting the same requirements for every application.

House Bill (HB) No. 8192 forms part of the party’s GINHAWA KIT (Kuryente–Internet–Trabaho) legislative package, which seeks to deliver everyday relief by addressing electricity costs, internet access, and employment opportunities.

“This is an important and integral reform that Lakas-CMD is pushing because job seekers deserve a process that respects their time, protects their documents, saves resources, and helps them get hired faster. Part ito ng (This is part of the) GINHAWA KIT package we envision to deliver real relief to the underprivileged and underserved, so the first step into work becomes simpler, safer, and more dignified for Filipino families,” Romualdez, the Lakas-CMD president, said in a news release Thursday.

“This bill modernizes the First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act by recognizing that the burden on applicants is no longer just about fees and charges, but also about fragmented, repetitive documentary demands that can pile up even before any job offer is made, especially for first-time jobseekers,” he added.

Under the measure, government-issued documentary requirements are limited to a standard set that employers may require for screening, focusing on identification through the Philippine National ID, a clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) when reasonably required by the nature of the position, and competency credentials through certified true copies of school records or equivalent proof of educational attainment.

It prohibits employers from requiring applicants to submit, surrender, deposit, or leave behind original civil registry documents such as birth or marriage certificates as a condition for screening or interviews.

The proposal also adopts a “No Multiple Clearance Rule,” where an employer that requires an NBI clearance at the application stage will no longer be allowed to demand an additional police clearance or similar local clearance for the same security screening purpose unless a specific law or regulation requires it for the position.

HB 8192 establishes an Employment Verification Service integrated with eGovPH, to be developed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment, the Civil Service Commission, and other relevant agencies, to allow employers to verify select job-application information through QR-enabled verification with the applicant’s affirmative and revocable consent. (PNA)