Know your rights: No age discrimination in the workplace

Republic Act 10911, or the “Anti-Age Discrimination in Employment Act,” aims to promote equal work opportunities for everyone. The law prohibits discrimination in employment on account of the age of the employee. Age should no longer be a basis for employment. Know that the following are prohibited under the law:

A. Employers are prohibited to:

or publish, or cause to be printed or published, in any form of media, including the internet, any notice of advertisement relating to employment suggesting preferences, limitations, specifications, and discrimination based on age; the declaration of age or birth date during the application process; any employment application because of the individual’s age; against an individual in terms of compensation, terms and conditions or privileges of employment on account of such individual’s age; any employee’s or worker’s promotion or opportunity for training because of age; lay off an employee or worker because of old age; early retirement on the basis of such employee’s or worker’s age.

B. Labor Contractors or Subcontractors are prohibited to:

Refuse to refer for employment or otherwise discriminate against any individual because of such person’s age

C. Labor Organization

membership to any individual because of such individual’s age; from its membership any individual because of such individual’s age; or or attempt to cause an employer to discriminate against an individual

D. Publisher

or publish any notice of advertisement relating to employment suggesting preferences, limitations, specifications, and discrimination based on age.

The Department of Labor and Employment has the authority to investigate matters in relation to this law. Violators may be punished with 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 fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court.