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Under PD 442 of the Labor Code of the Philippines, as amended, the DOLE is mandated to process the application for registration of labor organizations in order for them to acquire legal personality and to enjoy the rights given to legitimate labor organization. Union registration refers to the process of determining whether the application for registration of a labor union organized for collective bargaining, complies with the documentary requirements prescribed under Rule 3 and 4 of DOLE Department Order No. 40-03 and the rules implementing Book V of the Labor Code, as amended.


Public Sector Unions

Executive Order No. 180 provides that government employees can form, join or assist employees’ organizations for the furtherance and protection of their interests. The Amended Rules and Regulations Governing he exercise of the Right of Government Employees to Organize guides the registration process of government employees’ organizations or public sector unions.

Applications for registration shall be filed with the DOLE-Bureau of Labor Relations.

Requirements and Downloadable Documents:

Private Sector Unions

All labor unions whose members are employed in commercial, industrial and agricultural enterprises, and employees of government-owned or controlled corporations without original charters established under the Corporation Code, including religious, charitable, medical or educational institutions whether operating for profit or not which exist in whole and in part for collective bargaining. Supervisory employees shall not be eligible for membership in a rank-and-file employee labor union but may form their separate labor unions. Alien employees with valid working permits issued by DOLE may exercise their right to self-organization and join or assist labor unions for purposes of collective bargaining if they are nationals of a country which grants the same or similar rights to Filipino workers, as certified by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Managerial employees shall not be eligible to form, join or assist any labor union for purposes of collective bargaining.

*Requirements of Private Sector Unions (Chartered Locals and Independent Union)

Application Forms:


Workers’ Association Registration

Under PD 442 of the Labor Code of the Philippines, as amended, the DOLE is mandated to process the application for registration of workers’ association organized for the mutual aid and protection of its members or for other legitimate purposes except collective bargainingin order for them to acquire legal personality. Worker’s Association registration refers to the process of determining whether the application for registration of such organization complies with the documentary requirements prescribed under Rule 3 and 4 of DOLE Department Order No. 40-03, as amended.

Client(s) / Applicant(s)

Working Youth, Overseas Filipino Workers, Persons with Disabilities, Displaced Workers and all other workers, including ambulant, intermittent workers, the self-employed, rural workers and those without definite employers.

*Requirements of Workers Association

Application Forms:


Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) Registration

It is the State policy to promote and emphasize the primacy of collective bargaining in setting working conditions or the creation of a mechanism by which employers and recognized and certified labor unions bargain collectively. The registration of Collective Bargaining Agreement refers to the process of determining whether the application for registration complies with the requirements provided under DOLE Department Order No. 40-03, as amended.

Client(s) / Applicant(s)

Parties to the CBA

*Requirements of Collective Bargaining Agreement

Application Forms: