REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10789

RACEHORSE JOCKEYS RETIREMENT ACT

An Act Amending Presidential Decree No. 442, As Amended, otherwise known as The Labor Code of the Philippines by Adding a New Article 302-A Reducing The Retirement Age of Racehorse Jockeys from Sixty (60) to Fifty-Five (55)

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Edition note. This is the original Republic Act No. 10789, approved on 3 May 2016, which added Article 302-A to the Labor Code. Its Section 5 refers to Section 12-B of R.A. No. 1161, the social security law then in force; R.A. No. 11199, Section 33, later repealed R.A. Nos. 1161 and 8282, and the reference is kept as enacted. Rule 21 of the SSS implementing rules recognizes retirement at 55 for racehorse jockeys, effective 24 May 2016. SSS contribution requirements and the additional-premium proviso in Article 302-A still apply.

SSS Circular No. 2026-002 superseded Circular No. 2025-005 and changed the 2026 pension-increase schedule. Those pension adjustments are separate from this Act's retirement-age rule. The complete implementing text of DOLE Department Order No. 169-17 and SSS Circular No. 2018-005, including the applicable additional-premium requirements, has not been verified for this reader.

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Racehorse Jockeys Retirement Act".

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State shall promote the welfare of racehorse jockeys recognizing their special circumstance and the inherent dangers of their profession that may cause life-threatening injuries, permanent disability or even death. Towards this end, it is proper that the retirement age of racehorse jockeys be appropriately adjusted.

SEC. 3. Retirement. — The Labor Code of the Philippines is hereby further amended by adding a new Article 302-A to read as follows:

"Art. 302-A. Retirement Age of Racehorse Jockeys. — A professional racehorse jockey who is duly licensed by the Philippine Racing Commission (PHILRACOM) shall be compulsorily retired upon reaching the age of fifty-five (55) years and shall be entitled to all retirement benefits provided for under Article 302 of this Code: Provided, That he shall pay additional premiums to the Social Security System (SSS) as may be prescribed in the implementing rules and regulations of this Act.

"Nothing in this Article shall deprive any racehorse jockey of the benefits he is entitled to under existing laws, company policies or practices."

SEC. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the SSS, and the PHILRACOM, in consultation with the New Philippine Jockeys Association, Inc. (NPJAI) shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within thirty (30) days from its effectivity.

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. — Section 12-B of Republic Act No. 1161, as amended, otherwise known as the Social Security Act of 1997, is hereby amended and modified accordingly to entitle racehorse jockeys to the benefits provided therein upon reaching the retirement age of fifty-five (55) years old. All other laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 6. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

FRANKLIN M. DRILON

President of the Senate

FELICIANO BELMONTE JR.

Speaker of the House of Representatives

This Act which is a consolidation of House Bill No. 4133 and Senate Bill No. 129 was finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on February 1, 2016.

OSCAR G. YABES

Secretary of the Senate

MARILYN B. BARUA-YAP

Secretary General

House of Representatives

Approved: May 3, 2016

BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

President of the Philippines