A bill filed in the Senate seeks to end discrimination in the hiring of employees on the basis of age.

Senate Bill No. 29, or the “Anti-Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 2013,” filed by Senator Pia Cayetano, would penalise employers, labor contractors or organizations that make a person’s age the basis for employment.

“The measure is anchored on the constitutional provision that mandates the State to ensure equality of employment opportunities for all,” Cayetano explained.

“The basis for employment should be a person’s knowledge, skills and qualifications which are necessary to perform a job. A person’s age should not be an issue,” she added.

(Click here to read Senate Bill No. 29)

Cayetano cited postings in classified ads, job fairs, billboards or the Internet that she said set arbitrary age limits for job applicants.

Under Cayetano’s measure, private and public employers are not allowed to:

1. Print, publish, or cause the printing or publishing any notice of advertisement relating to employment suggesting preferences, limitations, specifications and discrimination based on age

2. Require the declaration of age or birth date during the application process

3. Decline any employment application because of the applicant’s age

4. Discriminate against an individual on account of his or her age in terms of compensation, terms and conditions, privileges, promotions and other opportunities

5. Forcibly lay-off an employee because of old age

“You would think that this is an issue affecting senior citizens, but no, even those in their late 20s are already discriminated against,” Cayetano said.

The measure proposes a fine of not less than P50,000 but not more than P500,000, or imprisonment of not less than three months but not more than two years, or both, at the discretion of the court, for violators.

Article from Interaksyon

Read our summary of age discrimination law in the Philippines.