The Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) signed the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for Republic Act 11551 on April 29, 2026, integrating labor education into the tertiary curriculum. The rollout targets the first semester of Academic Year 2026-2027 for freshmen via the National Service Training Program (NSTP). The move aims to prepare students for the workforce.
In Manila, CHED chairperson Shirley Agrupis, TESDA Secretary Jose Francisco Benitez, and DOLE officer-in-charge Benedicto Ernesto Bitonio Jr. signed the IRR for RA 11551, nearly five years after the law's enactment in May 2021.
Agrupis said labor education will be integrated as a special lecture in the NSTP for freshmen in the first semester of AY 2026-2027, amid 13,000 academic programs. They are coordinating with TESDA and DOLE for higher years, training trainers for fewer than 2,000 higher education institutions (HEIs) and 5.4 million students.
The law covers labor rights, negotiation skills, workplace relations, and grievance mechanisms. HEIs must provide at least 12 instructional hours; technical-vocational institutions (TVIs) allot 8 hours for short courses. It may be integrated into general education, electives, or as a stand-alone course.
Bitonio noted sped-up consultations with stakeholders. While Agrupis targets the first semester, Benitez suggested the second due to micro-credential development time. The goal is work-ready graduates understanding labor standards and government programs.
