Manila: Senator Joel Villanueva has introduced a bill aiming to incorporate part-time workers into the Labor Code, ensuring they receive wages, social protection, and other rights similar to those of full-time employees.
According to Philippines News Agency, Senate Bill No. 2375 seeks to create a legal framework for part-time employment as flexible work arrangements become increasingly prevalent and more Filipinos pursue additional or alternative sources of income. Villanueva emphasized the necessity of an explicit legal framework for part-time employment, as the current Labor Code lacks specific provisions for this work category. He highlighted that regulation has historically depended on a 1996 Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) bulletin, while technological advancements and evolving business models have driven demand for more flexible arrangements.
The proposed SB 2375 defines part-time employment as when a worker's normal hours are significantly shorter than those of full-time employees in the same establishment. It ensures that part-time workers receive fair compensation no lower than the applicable minimum wage, calculated on an hourly basis, and entitles them to benefits from the Social Security System, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG, as well as security of tenure, statutory leave benefits, retirement pay, and other labor standards. Additionally, the bill guarantees the right to self-organization, collective bargaining, and a discrimination-free workplace.
Villanueva believes that formalizing part-time work could particularly assist Filipinos who find conventional eight-hour employment challenging. He stated that establishing a statutory framework could expand employment opportunities for students, parents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and those with caregiving responsibilities. The proposal refers to the 3.93 million underemployed Filipinos as of December 2025 seeking additional or more suitable work.
Villanueva also noted that the measure aligns with the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan 2025-2034, which prioritizes legislation on part-time employment to cultivate a more inclusive, flexible, and future-ready labor market. The measure specifically excludes irregular, temporary, or intermittent employment from its definition of part-time work, as well as situations where hours are temporarily reduced for economic, technical, or structural reasons.
Should the bill be enacted, DOLE, in consultation with the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council and other stakeholders, would be responsible for issuing the implementing rules within 90 days of the law's effectivity.
