Salceda to file ‘No clearance before Job Offer Act’to eliminate requirement for jobseekers

Ligao City – CONGRESSMAN -elect Adrian Salceda of Albay’s 3rd District announced today his intent to file the “No Clearance Before Job Offer Act” upon assuming office this July. The proposed legislation aims to eliminate the requirement for jobseekers to secure costly government clearances—such as those from the NBI or police—before receiving a formal job offer.

“Requiring NBI or police clearance before any offer is even made forces the poor to pay for suspicion,” Salceda said. “And it wastes everyone’s time—including the NBI and the police. Their limited personnel and logistics are better used solving real crimes, not screening innocent job applicants by the millions.”

The proposed measure will prohibit both public and private employers from requiring police, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), or other criminal background clearances before issuing a formal job offer. Once hired, an employer may require only one such clearance—not multiple documents like police, NBI, barangay, and court certificates, which are commonly required today.

Salceda emphasized that this reform affirms the constitutional right to be presumed innocent, while also responding to a very real burden on the unemployed. “If you’re jobless and broke, or newly graduated, every peso counts. Requiring ₱100 to ₱500 worth of clearances, repeatedly, before giving you a shot is unjust and inefficient.”

Violations of the measure will be penalized by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), with escalating fines of up to ₱100,000 and possible suspension of hiring licenses or business permits for repeat offenses.

Macroeconomic Impact: Unlocking Labor Flexibility and Efficiency

Salceda also stressed the broader economic benefits of the bill, citing its potential to reduce friction in the labor market and improve overall productivity.

“Every redundant clearance is a delay in filling a job. It’s lost time, lost productivity, and lost income,” he said.

According to projections from Salceda’s office:

Labor force participation: By eliminating upfront financial barriers, the bill could encourage an estimated 185,000 to 220,000 additional jobseekers annually to enter or re-enter the labor market. This includes discouraged workers, first-time job applicants, and rural jobseekers who often forgo opportunities because they cannot afford repeated clearance fees ranging from ₱100 to ₱500.

GDP boost: Even a modest 0.2% gain in labor matching efficiency could yield ₱15 to ₱20 billion annually in added productivity through faster job matching, reduced informal employment, and better utilization of available manpower.

Government efficiency: Over 1 million man-hours per year are spent by the NBI and police processing employment-related clearances—resources that could be reallocated to core criminal investigations and public safety efforts.

“This is pro-worker, pro-growth, and pro-efficiency,” Salceda said. “We want an economy where the poor can apply for a job without having to prove they’re not criminals first.”