Everything You Need to Know About NLRC Complaint-Filing Fees in the Philippines (Updated to reflect the NLRC’s 2011 Rules of Procedure, subsequent Commission resolutions through early 2025, and key Supreme Court rulings)
1 | Why Filing Fees Exist
Under Article 225 of the Labor Code (as renumbered) and Republic Act 9347, the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) is authorized to “assess and collect reasonable fees” to:
- defray arbitration costs;
- discourage frivolous suits; and
- provide a modest trust fund for indigent workers (the SEAD Fund, formerly the SEDF).
The amounts and mechanics are fixed by the NLRC Rules of Procedure (2011, as amended) and by en banc resolutions periodically adjusting the rates to inflation.
2 | The Current Schedule of Labor-Arbitration Fees
| Transaction | Amount | How & When Paid | Key Rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| (a) Original complaint (single complainant) | ₱ 500.00* | On filing of NLRC RAB Form 1 | Rule IV §1 (a) |
| Each additional complainant | + ₱ 100.00* | Same cashier’s receipt | Rule IV §1 (a) |
| (b) Monetary claims or property award | Service fee: 1 % of total money claim or 1 % of judgment award, whichever is higher, but not <₱ data-preserve-html-node="true" 1,000 or >₱ 5,000 | If payable upon filing, deposited in trust; if assessed on an award, deducted on execution | NLRC EB Res. 05-14 (2014) |
| (c) Appeal to the Commission | ₱ 500.00* | Together with notice of appeal & bond | Rule VI §6; Art. 229 |
| (d) Motion for reconsideration or new trial | ₱ 300.00* | Upon filing | Rule VII |
| (e) Motion to reduce appeal bond | ₱ 500.00* | Upon filing | Rule VI §10 |
| (f) Petition for injunction (Rule XI cases) | ₱ 500.00* | Upon filing | Rule XI |
| (g) Subpoena duces tecum / ad testificandum | ₱ 100.00 per witness or document source | Pay before issuance | Rule V §4 |
| (h) Certified true copies / certifications | ₱ 100.00 + ₱ 5.00 per page of photocopy | Pay before release | AO of 2018 |
| (i) Sheriff’s or writ fees (execution) | Fixed by Revised Sheriff’s Schedule (₱ 200 – ₱ 1,000 + 5 % comm.) | Upon filing of motion for issuance of writ | Manual on Execution |
| (j) Deputized barangay or off-site filing center | Same as (a); cashier’s stub attached to record | Pay on the spot | RAB Memo 02-23 |
*The ₱ 10.00 Legal Research Fund LRF surcharge (Pres. Decree 1856) and the ₱ 5.00 Indigent Workers’ Fund are automatically added to every main docket or appeal fee.
3 | Exemptions, Waivers, and Deferred Payment
| Who/What | Benefit | Basis / Proof Required |
|---|---|---|
| Indigent workers (annual income ≤ the poverty threshold OR no income when dismissed) | No filing fee at outset; fees taken out of any monetary award** | Rule IV §2 (a); Barangay Certificate of Indigency or latest ITR |
| Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in recruitment or illegal dismissal cases | Same as indigent workers | Art. 128 (j) Labor Code; RA 8042 §10 |
| Labor-oriented NGOs representing legitimate unions/co-ops | 50 % reduction | NLRC EB Res. 03-18 |
| Government (national or LGU) as party-complainant | Exempt | Administrative Code §22 |
| DOLE-initiated complaints | Exempt | Art. 128(b) |
| Cases involving only reinstatement without backwages | ₱ 0 fee | Rule IV §1 (c) |
| Appeals where appellant is indigent | Appeal fee waived; bond NOT waived (only amount may be reduced) | Rule VI §9; case law |
Important: A fee waiver never covers the appeal bond (cash / surety equivalent to the award) required under Article 229. Workers may ask the Labor Arbiter or the Commission to reduce the bond for meritorious grounds (poverty, bankruptcy) but must still post the reduced amount within 10 days.
4 | Step-by-Step Payment Process
- Secure NLRC RAB Form 1 (Complaint) from the single-window counter.
- Compute tentative docket fee based on number of complainants and money claim (if known).
- Pay the fee at the Cashier; obtain an Official Receipt (OR).
- Attach the OR to your pleading; docketing clerk stamps the case number.
- For filings by registered mail/e-filing (Piloted in RAB IV-A, NCR, XI): scan of e-receipt or proof of e-wallet transfer (LandBank LinkBiz, GCash NLRC portal) must be uploaded.
- Keep the OR—it will be needed when you later claim copies of the decision or file an appeal.
5 | Consequences of Non-Payment or Underpayment
| Stage | Non-payment Effect | Curative Action |
|---|---|---|
| At filing | Complaint treated as “not filed”; prescriptive period continues to run | Pay within filing hours on the same day |
| During appeal | Appeal may be outright dismissed (Rule VI §7) | Pay w/in reglementary 10-day period or show force majeure |
| On motions | Motion deemed pro forma and not acted upon | Pay deficiency and move to admit motion |
Key jurisprudence: Spouses Domingo v. Laguesma, G.R. 170006 (2022) re-affirmed that the NLRC “has no authority to dispense with appeal fees once the period has lapsed.”
6 | Refunds and Re-assessment
- Clerical errors (e.g., double payment) → cash refund processed by DOLE Accounting within 30 days.
- Voluntary settlement early in mediation → service fee (1 %) may be pro-rated or waived by the Labor Arbiter.
- Dismissal for lack of jurisdiction → filing fee minus LRF and Indigent Fund components refundable upon motion.
7 | Periodic Updates & Inflation Adjustments
The Commission routinely indexes fees to inflation. Notable adjustments:
- EB Res. 05-13 (2013) – doubled basic docket from ₱ 250 to ₱ 500.
- EB Res. 13-20 (2020 pandemic) – temporarily suspended the 1 % service fee on pure reinstatement awards. Suspension lapsed 31 Dec 2022.
- Draft EB Res. 01-25 (pending) – proposes ₱ 50 increases across-the-board, effective January 1, 2026, subject to DBM concurrence.
Always consult the latest RAB circular or the NLRC website before filing.
8 | Practical Tips for Practitioners and Workers
- Pre-compute the 1 % service fee early; it often surprises clients.
- When seeking indigency, attach both the barangay certification and a notarized affidavit of daily earnings—case officers often require both.
- E-wallet payments post fastest between 8 AM-3 PM on banking days; after-hours payments reflect the next day and can cause late-filing issues.
- If your case includes a plea for reinstatement only, flag this in bold so docketing staff enters the ₱ 0 fee category.
- Keep digital copies of ORs; some RABs refuse to re-issue lost receipts even for appeal purposes.
9 | Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
| Question | Answer (Short) |
|---|---|
| Do class-action labor suits pay one fee? | No. The ₱ 100 add-on per extra complainant still applies. |
| Are labor unions exempt? | Only for inter-union disputes under Art. 267; ordinary dismissal suits pay the usual rates. |
| Does NLRC accept post-dated checks for appeal bond? | Yes, but the maturity date must not exceed 60 days from filing (EB Res. 11-19). |
| Can surety bonds be split? | No; must cover the entire award. Multiple bonds allowed only if one surety cannot write the full amount. |
| What happens to fees if the employer wins? | The 1 % service fee is automatically refunded or credited to the employer, less LRF/SEAD dues. |
10 | Key Take-Away
Filing fees before the NLRC are modest but strictly enforced. They finance speedy labor justice and protect indigent workers, but missing even a ₱ 500 appeal fee can doom an otherwise meritorious case. Always verify current rates with the Regional Arbitration Branch and pay on time.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for formal legal advice. Fee schedules and exemptions may change; consult the latest NLRC circulars or qualified counsel before acting.