CO-AUTHORSHIP AND CO-SPONSORSHIP SPEECH
An Act Strengthening the Rights of Piece-Rate Workers, Providing Stricter Reportorial Requirements and Penalties for Violations Thereof
“Anti-Abuse of Pakyawan Workers Act”
Senate Bill No. 2115 under Committee Report No. 59
Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
May 6, 2026
Mr. President, I would like to join our good Chairperson of the Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development in protecting the rights of our workers, and in particular, ensuring the welfare of “piece-rate” or “pakyawan” workers. With the indulgence of Senator Raffy Tulfo, this Representation wishes to be a co-author and co-sponsor of Senate Bill No. 2115 as reported out in Committee Report No. 59.
Presidential Decree No. 442 or the Labor Code of the Philippines, as amended regulates the practice of piece-rate work and determines the compensation that the workers should receive:
- Article 101 mandates the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment or DOLE to “regulate the payment of wages by results, including pakyao, piecework, and other non-time work, in order to ensure the payment of fair and reasonable wage rates, preferably through time and motion studies or in consultation with representatives of workers’ and employers’ organizations.”
- Further, Article 124 ensures that, “All workers paid by result, including those who are paid on piecework, takay, pakyaw or task basis, shall receive not less than the prescribed wage rates per eight (8) hours of work a day, or a proportion thereof for working less than eight (8) hours.”
To operationalize this law, DOLE issued Department Order No. 125-13 or the “Revised Guidelines on the Conduct of Time and Motion Study (TMS)” on April 1, 2013. The said guidelines “cover workers of micro, small and medium enterprises who are paid by result, including pakyao, piecework and other non-time work pursuant to Article 101 of the Labor Code but shall exclude enterprises where no employer-employee relationship exist.”
Subalit sa kabila ng mga panuntunang ito, hindi lingid sa ating kaalaman na inaabuso ang sistemang ito. Mayroong mga manggagawa na pakyawan ang trabaho ngunit hindi naman nakukuha ang karampatang bayad sa kabila ng kanilang mahabang oras ng pagtatrabaho. Ang ilan sa mga manggagawang ito ay pinuntahan mismo ng ating Chairperson. Tiyak na marami pa ang mga nasa ganitong sitwasyon ngunit hindi nasusupil ng DOLE dahil na din sa kakulangan ng mga Labor Inspectors.
We are optimistic that through the proposed “Anti-Abuse of Pakyawan Workers Act”, we will be able to ensure that the pakyawan workers receive what is due them and that their dignity, rights and welfare will always be upheld.
Thank you, Mr. President.