Labor Code Structure: Books and Articles
The Labor Code has a Preliminary Title and seven Books, 317 articles in the renumbered DOLE edition: what each Book covers and its article range.
| Part | Heading | Articles | Titles inside | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Title | Preliminary Title | 1 to 11 | Chapter I, General Provisions (1 to 6); Chapter II, Emancipation of Tenants (7 to 11) | Labor Code of the Philippines, renumbered (DOLE, 2022 edition), structure of the Code |
| Book One | Pre-Employment | 12 to 42 | Article 12 stands at the start of the Book; Title I, Recruitment and Placement of Workers (13 to 39); Title II, Employment of Non-Resident Aliens (40 to 42) | Labor Code of the Philippines, renumbered (DOLE, 2022 edition), structure of the Code |
| Book Two | Human Resources Development Program | 43 to 81 | Title I, National Manpower Development Program (43 to 56); Title II, Training and Employment of Special Workers (57 to 81) | Labor Code of the Philippines, renumbered (DOLE, 2022 edition), structure of the Code |
| Book Three | Conditions of Employment | 82 to 161 | Title I, Working Conditions and Rest Periods (82 to 96); Title II, Wages (97 to 129); Title III, Working Conditions for Special Groups of Employees (130 [132] to 161), with Chapter III on househelpers (139 [141] to 150 [152]) and Chapter V on night workers (154 to 161) | Labor Code of the Philippines, renumbered (DOLE, 2022 edition), structure of the Code |
| Book Four | Health, Safety and Social Welfare Benefits | 162 [156] to 217 [210] | Title I, Medical, Dental and Occupational Safety (162 [156] to 171 [165]); Title II, Employees Compensation and State Insurance Fund (172 [166] to 215 [208-A]); Title III, Medicare (216 [209]); Title IV, Adult Education (217 [210]) | Labor Code of the Philippines, renumbered (DOLE, 2022 edition), structure of the Code |
| Book Five | Labor Relations | 218 [211] to 292 [277] | Title I, Policy and Definitions (218 to 219); Title II, National Labor Relations Commission (220 to 231); Title III, Bureau of Labor Relations (232 to 239); Title IV, Labor Organizations (240 to 252); Title V, Coverage (253 to 257); Title VI, Unfair Labor Practices (258 to 260); Title VII, Collective Bargaining and Administration of Agreements (261 to 272); Title VII-A, Grievance Machinery and Voluntary Arbitration (273 to 277); Title VIII, Strikes and Lockouts and Foreign Involvement in Trade Union Activities (278 to 287); Title IX, Special Provisions (288 to 292) | Labor Code of the Philippines, renumbered (DOLE, 2022 edition), structure of the Code |
| Book Six | Post-Employment | 293 [278] to 302 [287] | Title I, Termination of Employment (293 to 301); Title II, Retirement from the Service (302) | Labor Code of the Philippines, renumbered (DOLE, 2022 edition), structure of the Code |
| Book Seven | Transitory and Final Provisions | 303 [288] to 317 [302] | Title I, Penal Provisions and Liabilities (303 to 304); Title II, Prescription of Offenses and Claims (305 to 307); Title III, Transitory and Final Provisions (308 to 317) | Labor Code of the Philippines, renumbered (DOLE, 2022 edition), structure of the Code |
Notes
- The edition used on this site has 317 articles. In 2015 the DOLE renumbered the articles; articles below 130 kept their numbers, and most articles from Book Three, Title III onward moved. Old and new numbers: Labor Code renumbered: old vs new articles.
- Chapter III of Book Three, Title III (the old rules on househelpers, Articles 139 [141] to 150 [152]) is still printed in the edition, but Section 44 of Republic Act No. 10361 (Batas Kasambahay) repealed it. Domestic workers are now covered by that law: see Kasambahay rights.
- Chapter V on night workers (Articles 154 to 161) was added by Republic Act No. 10151 in 2011. See Night work rules.
- Title III of Book Four (Medicare, Article 216 [209]) is still printed in the edition. A footnote of the edition says the Medicare law was replaced by Republic Act No. 7875; that footnote is a note of the editors, not text of the Code.
- Where to look for common problems: pay, hours, rest days and leave are in Book Three; security of tenure and dismissal are in Book Six, Title I; unions, unfair labor practices, strikes and the NLRC are in Book Five; deadlines to file claims are in Book Seven, Title II. See Wages and hours, Employee rights and Labor claim deadlines.
- Made-up example: Joy's dismissal letter cites "Article 297 of the Labor Code". Article 297 [282] is in Book Six, Title I, Termination of Employment. See Article 297.
- If you have a problem at work, see How to file a labor complaint and Free legal help.
General information, not legal advice. For your case, ask a lawyer, the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) or the agency.
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