First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act

First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act, Republic Act No. 11261 approved April 10, 2019, mandating that all government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs), local government units (LGUs), and government hospitals shall not collect fees or charges from a first time jobseeker.

In order to qualify as a first time jobseeker, the individual shall present a barangay certification to such effect. The law provides that “any person found guilty of fabrication or falsification shall be liable under the Revised Penal Code” but this provision is questionable as the individual responsible for the falsification would be the barangay official who issued the certification, not the subject of the certification itself.

The covered government transactions are only the following:

• (a) Police clearance certificate;
• (b) National Bureau of Investigation clearance;
• (c) Barangay clearance;
• (d) Medical certificate from a public hospital, but fees and charges collected for laboratory tests and other medical procedures required for the grant of a medical certificate shall not be free of charge;
• (e) Birth Certificate;
• (f) Marriage Certificate;
• (g) Transcript of academic records issued by state colleges and universities;
• (h) Tax Identification Number (TIN);
• (i) Unified Multi-Purpose ID (UMID) card; and
• (j) Other documentary requirements issued by the government that may be required by employers from job applicants.

The benefit can only be availed once.