Marilyn Cahatol

The plenary hall of the House of Representatives  minutes before it opens for the first regular session for the 20th Congress on July 28, 2025.    Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:604px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175963832238820250728-house-of-representatives-20th-congress-JC2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The plenary hall of the House of Representatives  minutes before it opens for the first regular session for the 20th Congress on July 28, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The plenary hall of the House of Representatives  minutes before it opens for the first regular session for the 20th Congress on July 28, 2025. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — A bill has been filed at the House of Representatives seeking to ensure compensation, benefits and humane working conditions for student interns</p><p>Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno, with his co-party-list Reps. Perci Cendaña, Dadah Kiram Ismula, and Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao fiied House Bill No. 5081 or the &#x27;Interns’ Rights and Welfare Act,&#x27; which seeks to “establish a national framework that guarantees humane working conditions, just compensation, and protection against abuse and exploitation for students undergoing internship programs.”</p><p>Diokno, who recognized internship programs&#x27; importance in helping students gain real-world exposure and prepare them for employment, said: “For these programs to truly serve their purpose, we must also protect the rights and welfare of our interns, and ensure that they are treated with respect and dignity.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/4/14/128-job-fairs-mounted-across-ph-in-first-4-months-of-2025-dole-1714"><strong>128 job fairs mounted across PH in first 4 months of 2025: DOLE</strong></a></div><p>The bill mandates interns in government agencies to be compensated with a stipend amounting to 75 percent of Salary Grade 1, Step 1, while those in private sector should receive 75 percent of minimum wage.</p><p>The bill also requires a memorandum of agreement and a detailed internship plan between schools and employers to ensure learning objectives are met.</p><p>It also limits the internship duration, with work limited to regular office hours and rest days, with overtime rules.</p><p>The proposed law will also form a multi-agency task force composed of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Labor and Employment, Civil Service Commission, and student representatives to monitor compliance, handle complaints, and impose sanctions on violators.</p><p>“No student should have to choose between learning and being taken advantage of—our legislative duty is to guarantee both quality education and fair treatment,” Diokno said.</p><p>Sen. Risa Hontiveros <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/3/more-senators-file-priority-bills-for-20th-congress-1517">filed </a>a similar bill in the Senate upon the opening of the 20th Congress.</p><p>She also <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/09/10/19/bill-filed-in-senate-to-protect-interns-from-exploitation">filed </a>the Senate bill in 2019, but this was left <a href="https://web.senate.gov.ph/lis/bill_res.aspx?congress=18&amp;q=SBN-994">pending</a> at committee level.</p><p>At present, employers are not mandated by any law to compensate interns. There is also no legislation regulating internship programs in the country.</p><p><a href="https://ched.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/CMO-NO.-104-S.-2017.pdf">CHED Memorandum Order No. 104, Series of 2017</a>, limits internship program duration to five months, “except for highly technical programs that require longer internship hours.”</p><p>The memorandum only allows agencies and companies to provide incentives such as free meals and travel allowance.</p><p>It also allows employers to charge an internship fee within the bounds of the <a href="https://ched.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/CMO-No.03-s2012.pdf">CHED Memorandum Order No. 3, series of 2012.</a></p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/24/deped-says-proposed-2026-budget-to-prioritize-learners-health-safety-inclusive-learning-1917"><strong>DepEd says proposed P928-B budget in 2026 to prioritize learners&#x27; health, safety, inclusive learning</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EJKhhmguRYM?si=VQx-5Rln77uK-Qkt" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>The 'Interns’ Rights and Welfare Act' seeks to “establish a national framework that guarantees humane working conditions, just compensation, and protection against abuse and exploitation for students undergoing internship programs.”</p>

The 'Interns’ Rights and Welfare Act' seeks to “establish a national framework that guarantees humane working conditions, just compensation, and protection against abuse and exploitation for students undergoing internship programs.”

House bill seeks to ensure compensation, humane work conditions for interns

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House bill seeks to ensure compensation, humane work conditions for interns

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 05, 2025 01:03 PM PHT

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Internship

College

House of Representatives

Chel Diokno

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