FEB.

19, 2014

NR # 3382B

Former Prisoners Employment Program proposed

Since employers are reluctant to hire former prisoners, it is necessary for government to set a program to enable these ex-inmates find gainful work to provide for their families, a lawmaker today stressed. Statistics reveal, sad to say, that former prisoners have a slimmer chance to being employed after serving their prison terms, Rep. iosdado !acapagal "rroyo laments. "rroyo, with #ampanga Rep. $loria !acapagal-"rroyo as co-author, through %& '()*, is seeking to institute a +ormer #risoners, -mployment #rogram. %& '()* seeks to create a .ommittee on -mployment /pportunities for +ormer #risoners 0.-/+#1 under the epartment of 2ustice, which is tasked to draft the implementing rules and regulations for the training and employment of former prisoners. 3ikewise, the proposed statute seeks to provide incentives to private establishment hiring inmates through an additional deduction from gross income, e4uivalent to fifteen percent 05671 of total amount paid as salaries and wages to former prisoners. 8e are optimistic that through this bill, there is a practical option to make life easier and productive for former prisoners by making employment opportunities available and accessible so that they may en9oy their gained freedom and life after incarceration meaningful, the authors stressed. :he .-/+# shall be headed by a .hairman and assisted by a ;ice .hairman, who shall both be appointed by the #resident, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of 2ustice. :he .ommittee shall have a :echnical Service "rm to assist it to carry out its duties and functions. "rroyo pointed out that former prisoners, once they are out and back in mainstream society, are considered at a crossroad in life, raring to be reunited with their loved ones but more importantly, aching to find gainful work to provide for their families. !ost, if not all employers, are reluctant to hire former prisoners because of their criminal past. :his makes it extra difficult for former inmates to reform and reintegrate into society, the authors lament. $iven that life inside prison is more than enough punishment for their trespasses against society, it is unfair, once they are out of prison, if they are un9ustly denied of a decent source of livelihood brought about by the stigma of their delin4uent past, "rroyo stressed. :he authors are proposing an initial amount of #5<<-million to be allocated for the first year of its implementation and the amount necessary to carry out the same shall be included in the $eneral "ppropriations "ct. 0'<1 dpt