DOLE 7 reminds employers of law
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 7 is reminding employers not to make age as a basis for hiring workers.
DOLE 7 Director Exequiel Sarcauga said that with the Anti-Age Discrimination in Employment Act or Republic Act (RA) 10911 now in effect, the hiring of potential workers should be made on the basis of abilities, knowledge, skills and qualification, and not on age.
Employers, Sarcauga said, are prohibited to require the declaration of age or birth date during the application process or decline any employment application because of one’s age.
Denying an employee’s or worker’s promotion or opportunity for training; forcibly laying off an employee; and imposing early retirement because of age are also prohibited.
Noting the common hiring advertisements indicating age as one of the requirements of employment, Sarcauga cautioned media outlets to avoid the practice. He said that under RA 10911, it is unlawful to print 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, specification and discrimination based on age.
But Sarcauga said there are exceptions considered under the law such as setting age limitation when age is a bonafide occupational qualification reasonably needed in the normal operation of a particular business.
Employers who violate the law will be fined between P50,000 and P500,000 and will face imprisonment of from three months to two years, at the court’s discretion. /