What the Labor Education Act means for students

MANILA, Philippines – Government agencies finally signed the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the law mandating the integration of labor education into the tertiary education curriculum.

The signing came nearly five years after the enactment of Republic Act (RA) No. 11551 or the Labor Education Act in May 2021.

The agencies that signed the IRR in a ceremony on Wednesday, April 29, were the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Under the law, the IRR should have taken only 60 days.

Labor Undersecretary Benedicto Bitonio Jr. said there might have been challenges in the coordination of the three agencies for the policy.

“In the last two to three years, spineed-up natin ‘yong proseso ng konsultasyon para ang significant inputs ng stakeholders ma-address lahat,” Bitonio said. “Saka ‘yong institutional coordination and collaboration, consistency, maplantsa rin sa hanay ng government agencies concerned.” 

(In the last two to three years, we sped up the consultation process to address significant inputs of stakeholders. We also ironed out institutional coordination and collaboration, as well as consistency, among government agencies concerned.)

What does the law mean for students? Here are some fast facts:

Definition of labor education

Under the law, labor education means the teaching of basics on labor rights and “other skills relating to negotiation, fostering smooth interpersonal relations in the workplace, and mechanisms for redress of grievances and other concerns.”

When this is embedded in the curriculum, students will be informed about labor standards, labor relations, basic workplace practices, and related government programs and services, Bitonio said.

Basically, he explained, students will be informed about the realities of work, including dealing with contracts, understanding wages, taking action when something feels unfair, and engaging constructively with employers. 

Where labor education will be taught

The law states that labor education will be included in the curriculum of tertiary education. This includes all public and private higher education institutions (HEIs) and technical-vocational institutions (TVIs).

When implementation may begin

CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis, in a briefing following the IRR signing, said they are targeting to integrate labor education into the tertiary curriculum by school year (SY) 2026-2027, as early as the first semester. 

Agrupis said commission en banc meetings are still needed for the implementation before they provide directives to schools.

But for TESDA chief Jose Francisco Benitez, the rollout may be more feasible in the second semester, as crafting micro-credentials or short-term, modular certifications may take two to three months.

Supplemental guidelines may also be needed regarding curriculum integration, monitoring, instructor qualifications, reporting requirements, phased implementation, and coordination with HEIs and technical panels, according to a CHED briefer.

How labor education will be taught

In the briefer, CHED said labor education may be integrated into general education courses or elective courses, or be a stand-alone course if feasible.

The commission said HEIs should provide at least 12 instructional hours for labor education, while short-term courses of TVIs must allot at least eight hours.

Agrupis told reporters that freshmen students of SY 2026-2027 may expect the rollout of labor education through a special lecture in the National Service Training Program.

Agencies have yet to finalize labor education modules for sophomores to graduating students.

According to CHED, the IRR provides for common modules, instructor/trainer qualification standards, credit recognition, and labor empowerment and career guidance conferences. But priority in the implementation is flexibility for schools.

How government handled labor education before

Bitonio said three decades ago, DOLE, through the Bureau of Labor Relations, implemented the Labor Education for Graduating Students program. Since then, DOLE has conducted seminars for graduating students with university partners.

He said the program will now “graduate” following the signing of the IRR of RA 11551. 

For DOLE, the IRR presents a “clearer way” to ensure that students are work-ready after graduation. – Rappler.com