How to Apply for the "First-Time Jobseekers Assistance Act"

Embarking on the quest for a job for the very first time is a transformative experience filled with a mix of excitement, uncertainty, and the pressing reality of expenses such as pre-employment documents. As the curtain rises on this new chapter of life, the intricacies of the job search process can seem daunting, particularly when financial responsibilities loom overhead.

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But you don't have to rack your brain thinking about pre-employment documents expenses anymore, because the First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act's or the RA 11261's regulations were released by the Department of Labor and Employment and 23 other national government entities in order to assist first-time job seekers in obtaining pre-employment documents and further improve the youth's employment prospects.

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The FTJAA aims to assist first-time job applicants in getting pre-employment documents while minimizing their financial burden in doing so. According to the IRR, the DOLE, acting through the Bureau of Local Employment, is in charge of the Inter-Agency Monitoring Committee, which is made up of agencies that are working together as a one country to enforce and implement the Act.

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What are the documents you can obtain for free as first time jobseeker under this act?

According to DOLE, the fees of common pre-employment documents issued by appropriate government agencies are waived to help them land a job more easily.

This means that you can get the following documents for free if you are a first time jobseeker:

1. Barangay clearance as first time jobseeker and clearance;
2. Police clearance;
3. NBI clearance
4. Medical certificates (except laboratory tests and other medical procedures);
5. Birth and marriage certificates;
6. Transcript of records, certificate of graduation/completion, and diploma;
7. Taxpayer Identification Number and id
8. Civil Service Certificate of Eligibility
9. PhilHealth id
10. POEA certificates
11. Mayor’s clearance
12. MARINA certificates
13. TESDA National Certificates and
14. Certificates of Competencies

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How to avail this assistance act?

To avail, just follow these steps specified by DOLE:

1. Secure the barangay certification from your place of residence and execute an Oath of Undertaking. The certification must state that you are a first time jobseeker.

2. Present the original barangay certification to the officer of the government agency to avail of the pre-employment documents free of charge. Follow the existing rules of the agencies in securing the documents.

3. Report back to the barangay after successfully obtaining employment.

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For more information, please visit bit.ly/FTJAA_DOLE.

To view the full act, click here

Source: Department of Labor and Employment