Probationary employment is an arrangement where an employee is placed on trial by the employer for a period of time, not to exceed six months, to allow the employer to determine whether the employee is fit for regularization. Probationary employment is beneficial for employers as it allows them to address problems in the employment relationship before regularization ...
With workers returning to work on-site, the Department of Labor and Employment (“DOLE”) issuedLabor Advisory No. 1, series of 2022, or the Isolation and Quarantine Leaves of Employees in the Private Sector, to guide employers ...
On the heels of the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Labor Relations Commission (“NLRC”) issuedNLRC En Banc Resolution No. 03-20, series of 2020, or theInterim Amendments to the 2011 NLRC Rules of Procedure(“Interim Amendments”).Under the Interim Amendments, the conduct of mandatory conciliation and mediation conferences were suspended, making it discretionary upon the Labor Arbiters ...
On September 16, 2022, the DOLE issuedDepartment Order No. 237, series of 2022, or the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 11165or the Telecommuting Act (“Revised Telecommuting Rules”). New Definitions The Revised Telecommuting Rules clarified the definition of an “alternative workplace” and a “regular workplace” ...
On February 11, 2022, the Department of Labor and Employment (“DOLE”) issuedDepartment Order No. 221-A-22, or theGuidelines in the Accreditation of Agents and Appointment of Employers Authorized Representatives for filing of Alien Employment Permit (AEP) Applications and Related Documents(the “AEP Accreditation Guidelines”), pursuant to Section 28 of DOLE Department Order No ...
On August 23, 2022, the Department of Labor and Employment (“DOLE”) issuedLabor Advisory No. 17, series of 2022, which governs the suspension of work in the private sector by reason of weather disturbances and similar occurrences. It provides that in the exercise of management prerogative, the employer may suspend work to ensure the safety and health of employees during weather disturbances and similar occurrences ...
With the decreasing number of positive COVID-19 cases, more employees are now returning to on-site work and new COVID-19 testing protocols are in place. The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (“IATF”) provided guidelines for COVID-19 testing requirements for unvaccinated and partially vaccinated employees through its Resolutions No. 148-B and 149. Also, the National COVID-19 Immunization Program opened to the general public nationwide ...
Pursuant to Department of Labor and Employment (“DOLE”) Labor Advisory No. 18, series of 2020, employers, including contractors or subcontractors in the private sector, shall shoulder the cost of COVID-19 prevention and control measures, such as, but not limited to, testing, disinfection facilities, hand sanitizers, personal protective equipment (i.e.,face masks), signages, and proper orientation and training of workers on COVID-19 prevention and control ...
On April 27, 2022,Republic Act No. 11712, or thePublic Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances for Health Care Workers Act(“RA 11712”), was signed into law in recognition of the critical role of health care workers in providing quality health care and ensuring disease prevention in the general population, especially during the pandemic. It seeks to promote the welfare of health care workers through the grant of mandatory benefits and allowances with utmost efficiency ...
SyCipLaw has released the latest update of its market entry guide, SyCipLaw's Doing Business in the Philippines: A General Guide. The guide covers the setting up of a corporation or a branch office in the Philippines, post-SEC registration permits, how Philippine entities are taxed, tax incentives available, and merger notification rules ...
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has extended the deadline for applications for amnesty for late and non-filing of annual financial statements (AFS), general information sheets (GIS), as well as non-compliance with SEC Memorandum Circular No. 28, series of 2020 (Requirement for Corporations, Partnerships, Associations, and Individuals to Create and/or Designate E-mail Account Address and Cellphone Number for Transactions with the Commission) (MC28) ...
SyCipLaw's Banking, Finance & Securities Department's Banking Bulletin for April 2023 features the latest issuances from theBangko Sentral ng Pilipinas(BSP or Central Bank of the Philippines), which includes the amendment of the miscellaneous rules on deposits and the issuance of rules on mediation and adjudication of financial consumer complaints: BSP Amends Miscellaneous Rules On Deposits On December 14, 2022, the BSP issued Circular No ...
SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan (SyCipLaw) has just published the SyCipLaw TMT and Data Bulletin covering significant Philippine legal and regulatory developments in the technology, media, telecommunications and data space, from late 2022 to the first quarter of 2023. It also notes links to podcasts and materials relating to TMT and dataPLUSa commentary on whether AI can replace a local counsel ...
SyCipLaw's Banking, Finance & Securities Department's Banking Bulletin for May 2023 features the latest issuances from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and theBangko Sentral ng Pilipinas(BSP or Central Bank of the Philippines), which includes the adoption of the ASEAN Sustainable and Responsible (SRF) standards, and the clarifications made by BSP on what is considered excluded from the Real Estate Loan Limit and Stress Test ...
SyCipLaw’sTax Department has prepared Tax Issues and Practical Solutions(T.I.P.S.) for May. Please read the full text hereor via this link.SyCipLaw’s Tax Department has prepared Tax Issues and Practical Solutions (T.I.P.S ...
SEC Issues Regulations to Implement Financial Consumer Protection Act On 25 April 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") issued Memorandum Circular No. 5, series of 2023 and adopted the SEC Rules and Regulations of the Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act of 2022 ("SEC FCPA IRR") to implement Republic Act No. 11765 (the Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act ("FCPA") ...
On June 9, 2023, the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas issued Circular No. 1174, amending the implementing regulations of the mandatory agricultural, fisheries and rural development financing contemplated by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development Financing Enhancement Act (Republic Act No. 11901 or the “Agri-Agra Reform Credit Actâ€). The implementing regulations were previously set out in BSP Circular No. 1159 dated November 4, 2022 ...
SyCipLaw's Tax Department has prepared an international edition of its Tax Issues and Practical Solutions (T.I.P.S.) for the second quarter of 2023. Please read the full texthereor via thislink. The SyCipLaw T.I.P.S - International Edition covers the following tax issues: 1. May a public utility treat corporate income taxes as operating expenses for purposes of computing rates chargeable to consumers? 2. For input value-added tax ("VAT") refund claims filed prior to RMC No ...
PCC Issues Motu Proprio Merger Review Guidelines for Digital Markets On 21 August 2023, the Philippine Competition Commission (“PCC”) issued the Guidelines for the motu proprio review of Mergers and Acquisitions in Digital Markets (the “Guidelines”) to provide greater transparency and predictability over the PCC’s power of motu proprio review of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) within the digital market ...
SyCipLaw's Tax Department has prepared the T.I.P.S. for July which covers the following tax issues: 1. May the Bureau of Internal Revenue validly serve an assessment notice through the central receiving station of an establishment where the taxpayer is a tenant without proof of authority of the person who allegedly received the mail as part of her functions? 2 ...
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") issued SEC Memorandum Circular No. 17, series of 2023, titled Extension of Amnesty Applications until 06 November 2023 (SEC MC No. 17-2023 or the "Circular") to grant a final extension up to November 6, 2023 for amnesty applications for late and non-filing of general information sheets ("GIS"), annual financial statements ("AFS"), as well as non-compliance with SEC Memorandum Circular No ...
SyCipLaw's Tax Department has prepared Tax Issues and Practical Solutions (T.I.P.S.) for August. The August 2023 issue covers the following tax issues: 1. May the ruling in the 2011 case of Commissioner of Internal Revenue v ...
SyCipLaw Partners Ricardo P.G. Ongkiko (head of Litigation Department), John Christian Joy A. Regalado and Ma. Patricia B. Paz-Jacoba have written "International Commercial Arbitration in the Philippines," a chapter in the recently released Chambers International Arbitration 2023 Global Practice Guide (GPG) ...
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") issued SEC Memorandum Circular No. 20, series of 2023, titled Final Extension of Amnesty Applications until 31 December 2023 (the"Circular") to grant a final extension up to December 31, 2023 for amnesty applications for late and non-filing of general information sheets ("GIS"), annual financial statements ("AFS"), as well as non-compliance with SEC Memorandum Circular No ...
Background On October 2, 2023, the Philippine Stock Exchange ("PSE") issuedPSE Memorandum CN-2023-0048, which declared the PSE Short Selling Guidelines effective. On October 11, 2023, the PSE also issuedPSE Memorandum CN No. 2023-0053, setting out the Regulatory Requirements for Securities Borrowing and Lending. Further toPSE Memorandum CN-2023-0056, the PSE officially launched its Short Selling Program on November 6, 2023 ...
