The Department Of Labor And Employment Issues Guidelines On The Submission Of Monthly Reports Of Private Employment Agency (PEA) And Renewal Of Pea Licenses In Light Of The Pandemic.

Pursuant to the Department of Labor and Employment (“DOLE”) Department Order Nos. 216 and 217, Series of 2020 (collectively, “Department Orders No. 216 and 217”), Private Employment Agencies (“PEAs”) are required to submit a hard copy of the monthly recruitment and placement reports to the appropriate Regional Office of the DOLE within seven (7) days after each reference month. Subsequently, PEAs are required to submit a computerized softcopy of the report in Microsoft Word or Excel format through electronic mail to the appropriate Regional Office, copy furnished the Bureau of Local Employment (“BLE”).

However, pursuant to DOLE Labor Advisory No. 17, Series of 2021 entitled “Submission of Monthly Reports and Renewal of PEA License”, (“Labor Advisory No. 17”) DOLE Regional Offices are now enjoined to accept online submissions as compliant with the reporting and monitoring requirements under DOLE Department Orders No. 216 and 217. Online submissions must be made through the following addresses:

Note that the BLE (ble.peareports@gmail.com) must be copy furnished in the PEAs’ online submission of their monthly reports. Importantly, the PEAs must also specify and submit their official e-mail addresses to be used solely for the purpose of submitting monthly reports.

While the PEAs may submit electronically, they are still required to keep and preserve the original copies of the reports as submitted electronically. Additional guidelines on the submission of the physical copies of the submitted reports shall be issued by the Regional Offices, subject to the minimum health standards as may be prescribed by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID).

Further, pursuant to Labor Advisory No. 17, the PEAs may be allowed to submit electronically the necessary documentary requirements for the renewal of their license. Personal appearances before the Regional Office of the DOLE shall be limited only to transactions requiring the same, by appointment and/or schedule.

Notably, in case the region having jurisdiction over the PEA’s principal office is declared under Enhanced Community Quarantine (“ECQ”) or Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (“MECQ”), the late or delayed application for the renewal of the concerned PEA’s license shall not be treated as a new application, provided it is made within twenty (20) calendar days from the lifting of the ECQ or MECQ.

Finally, while Department Order Nos. 216 and 217 do not prescribe any attachments to the reporting and monitoring forms, Regional Offices are given the discretion to require additional attachments as long as these are reasonable and required for a lawful purpose, such as for security or verification. Accordingly, Regional Offices are enjoined to post in their official websites, social media pages, and bulletin boards the required attachments to monthly reports and documents for renewal, if applicable. Subject to the provisions of the Data Privacy Act, individuals whose personal information may be publicized by the Regional Offices must have consented to such posting in the PEA’s official websites and social media pages.

The full text of Labor Advisory No. 17 may be accessed here.