Karapatan ng Manggagawa
Labor Rights Philippines: What Every Worker Needs to Know.
Most Filipinos go to work every day without knowing what their employer is legally required to give them. They get short-paid on overtime. They get fired without warning. They get told 13th month pay is a "bonus" the company can skip. None of that is okay — and most of it is illegal.
BatasKo built this guide for every kasambahay, BPO agent, construction worker, jeepney driver, factory hand, fresh grad, and OFW. The Labor Code of the Philippines is not optional. Your rights are not favors. Here's exactly what the law gives you — and exactly what to do when your employer breaks it.
ELI5 — The short version
Your employer is not above the law. The Labor Code of the Philippines (Presidential Decree 442, signed in 1974) sets the floor for every worker's rights — minimum wage, overtime pay, security of tenure, 13th month pay, mandatory SSS/PhilHealth/Pag-IBIG. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) enforces it. If your employer is below the floor, you can file for free. You don't need a lawyer to start.
Complete primary source
PD 442 — The full Labor Code of the Philippines, all 302 articles.
Every article from Book I (pre-employment) to Book VI (post-employment) — indexed, with plain-language ELI5 summaries on every single provision. The law, word for word, in a language every Filipino can understand.
Browse all 302 articles of the Labor Code →You don't need to memorize all 302. These 8 are the ones that directly protect your daily work life — know them cold.
Your core rights as a Filipino worker
Eight rights every rank-and-file worker in the private sector has under the Labor Code and related laws. These are the questions to ask about every job offer, every payslip, every termination.
Security of tenure
Art. 294, Labor Code
You cannot be fired without just or authorized cause AND due process. No employer can arbitrarily end your employment.
Minimum wage + overtime
Arts. 82–87, Labor Code
Your daily rate cannot fall below the regional minimum wage. Work past 8 hours = at least 125% of your hourly rate.
13th month pay
PD 851
A legal right, not a bonus. Every rank-and-file employee who worked at least one month in a calendar year is entitled — pro-rated if you resigned.
Rest day and holiday pay
Arts. 91–94, Labor Code
One paid rest day per week. Premium pay (130%–200%) for working on regular holidays, special days, and your scheduled rest day.
Night shift differential
Art. 86, Labor Code
Extra 10% of your hourly rate for work between 10 PM and 6 AM. Mandatory for all rank-and-file — BPO workers, nurses, drivers included.
Mandatory benefits
SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG laws
Enrollment in SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG is your employer's legal duty, not a favor. Same goes for 5 days service incentive leave.
Right to file a complaint
RA 6715, DOLE SEnA Rules
File a DOLE Request for Assistance through SEnA for free. Retaliating against you for filing is itself a separate labor violation.
Protection from endo / contractualization
Art. 280, DOLE D.O. 174
5-month contracts recycled to avoid regularization are illegal. If your job is necessary to the business, you may already be a regular employee.
Applies to all private sector rank-and-file employees · Government employees are covered by Civil Service laws
All Labor Rights articles
The Labor Code of the Philippines: Your ELI5 Guide
Presidential Decree 442 — the 1974 law that still sets the floor for every worker's right today.
Read now →Overtime Pay Philippines: How to Compute What You're Owed
Past 8 hours? You earn at least 25% more per hour. Here's the formula, the rates, and what to do if it's missing.
Read now →13th Month Pay Philippines: Who Gets It, How to Compute It
A legal right, not a bonus. PD 851 covers every rank-and-file employee — even resigned ones.
Read now →Illegal Dismissal Philippines: What It Is and What to Do
No just cause, no due process, no firing. If your employer broke the twin notice rule, you can fight it.
Read now →Contractualization and Endo: Your Rights as a Contractual Worker
5-month contracts on repeat are not legal cover. If your job is necessary to the business, you may already be regular.
Read now →Night Differential Pay Philippines: Who Qualifies
Work between 10 PM and 6 AM? You earn an extra 10% per hour — separate from overtime. Most BPO workers miss this.
Read now →How to File a DOLE Complaint Step by Step
SEnA is free, takes 30 days, and doesn't require a lawyer. Here's the exact process for unpaid wages or benefits.
Read now →Kasambahay Rights Philippines: The Domestic Worker's Guide
RA 10361 gives every domestic worker a minimum wage, SSS, weekly rest day, and written contract. Even live-in helpers.
Read now →Mandatory section
For OFWs / Para sa OFW
Once you're deployed abroad, your day-to-day employment is governed by the laws of your host country and your POEA-approved Standard Employment Contract — not the Labor Code. But the Philippine state never stops being your safety net.
- The POEA Standard Employment Contract is your 'Labor Code abroad' — it sets minimum standards for OFW wages, rest days, repatriation, and termination. Read it before signing.
- Illegal dismissal cases for OFWs are filed at the NLRC in the Philippines (RA 8042 / Migrant Workers Act). You have 4 years from the violation to file.
- Your first stop abroad is the POLO (Philippine Overseas Labor Office) at the embassy. They handle salary disputes, contract violations, and emergency repatriation requests.
- OWWA membership is automatic with every legal deployment — it gives you welfare benefits, repatriation assistance, and scholarship programs for your kids.
- OFW emergency hotline: 1348 (Philippines) or +632-8722-1144 (international). For undocumented workers, contact the embassy directly — they can still help.
Who you call when something goes wrong
DOLE
Money claims, labor standards violations, SEnA (mandatory conciliation), kasambahay registration
Hotline: 1349
NLRC
Illegal dismissal cases, unfair labor practice, claims above ₱5,000 escalated from DOLE
nlrc.dole.gov.ph
PAO
Free legal representation if your monthly income is below the indigency threshold (currently around ₱24,000 for NCR)
pao.gov.ph
DMW
OFW-specific issues, illegal recruitment cases, POEA contract enforcement
Hotline: 1348
Sources
- 01.Presidential Decree No. 442 (Labor Code of the Philippines), as amended, batasko.com/laws/labor-code
- 02.Department of Labor and Employment — Worker's Rights and Welfare, dole.gov.ph
- 03.National Labor Relations Commission, nlrc.dole.gov.ph
ALL LABOR RIGHTS ARTICLES
12 articlesRepublic Act
Night Worker Rights Philippines 2011 — BatasKo ELI5
Republic Act
Batas Kasambahay (RA 10361) Philippines — BatasKo ELI5
Republic Act
Termination Pay Law Philippines — BatasKo ELI5
Republic Act
13th Month Pay Tax Exemption Philippines 2015 — BatasKo ELI5
Republic Act
PESO Public Employment Service Office Philippines 2015 — BatasKo ELI5
Republic Act
NLRC Philippines 2016 — What the Labor Relations Commission Does for You | BatasKo ELI5
Republic Act
Surface Mine Worker Retirement Age Philippines 2016 — BatasKo ELI5
Republic Act
Racehorse Jockey Retirement Age Philippines 2016 — BatasKo ELI5
Republic Act
Anti-Age Discrimination in Employment Act (RA 10911) Philippines — BatasKo ELI5
Republic Act
SPES Student Employment Program Philippines 2016 — BatasKo ELI5
Republic Act
Occupational Safety and Health Act (RA 11058) Philippines — BatasKo ELI5
Republic Act
Social Security Act of 2018 (RA 11199) — BatasKo ELI5
Legal disclaimer: BatasKo provides general legal information, not legal advice. This content is for civic education only. For advice on your specific employment situation, consult a licensed Filipino lawyer or the Public Attorney's Office (PAO).