Free government-issued documents for first-time job seekers

Republic Act No. 11261, also known as the First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act, provides significant support to first-time jobseekers by waiving fees for essential government-issued documents required for employment.

Under this Act, Filipino citizens seeking employment for the first time can obtain documents such as NBI clearance, police clearance, barangay clearance, birth and marriage certificates, transcripts of records from state universities and colleges, Tax Identification Number (TIN), Unified Multi-Purpose ID (UMID) card, and other necessary documents without any payment.

To avail of this benefit, first-time jobseekers must present a certification from their barangay, verifying their status as first-time jobseekers. This certification is issued free of charge by the barangay office where the individual resides. The Act mandates that all relevant government agencies, including government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) and local government units (LGUs), honor this certification and provide the necessary documents without charging fees.

This provision, however, can only be utilized once per individual, ensuring that new graduates and jobseekers have a smoother and more financially accessible transition into the workforce.