3 Elements of Labor Law

a) Labor Policies. These are principles or guidelines that define State policies regarding labor and employment. Although these policies do not govern the relations per se between workers and employers, they represent a new dimension that is an integral part of labor law. Labor policies may be classified into Constitutional policies


b) Labor Standards Law. From the definition of labor law, as given, one may cull a definition of labor standards law, to wit; "It is that body of statutes, rules and doctrines that governs the rights and duties of workers and employers respecting terms and conditions of employment by prescribing certain standards therefore," These standards, whether maximum or minimum, serve as bases of the rights and duties of workers and employers. Examples of labor standards laws are Book III- Conditions of Employment, Labor Code, as well as the decrees on Cost of Living Allowance (PD 525) and on 13th Month Pay (PD 851



c) Labor Relations Law. Our given definition of labor law also contains a working definition of labor relations law. This can be collated from these words, "It is that body of statutes, rules, principles and doctrines that governs the rights and duties of workers and employers by establishing a legal framework within which better terms and conditions of work could be obtained through collective bargaining or other concerted activity. "This element of labor law sets the legal parameters whereby workers may undertake concerted activities to secure better conditions of employment than those prescribed by labor standards law. The prime example of this element of labor law is found in Book V-Labor Relations, Labor Code, and its amendatory laws.