Noy signs law on speedy resolution of labor disputes

 MANILA, Philippines - Workers and employers can look forward to speedy resolution of labor disputes with the implementation of a new law strengthening the National Labor Relations Commission.

President Aquino signed into law Republic Act No. 10741 last Jan. 12 providing for the strengthening of NLRC operations. It was the first Congress-approved bill signed into law by the President this year.

Under the new law, lawyers under the NLRC would perform appellate and adjudicatory functions to resolve labor disputes. Their terms would be coterminous with the NLRC commissioners to whom they are assigned.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said yesterday a strengthened NLRC could respond to the clamor of both workers and management for faster and more effective resolution of cases.

The law provides that there can be as many commission attorneys as needed for the effective and efficient operations of the NLRC, but not more than five shall be assigned to the chairman and each commissioner.

The chairman and the commissioners will hold office until they are 65 years old unless removed for cause as provided by law or are incapacitated to discharge their duties.

The President, under the RA 10741, would name the NLRC chairman, presiding commissioners and other officials.

The President shall also appoint labor arbiters upon the recommendation of the NLRC in full session subject to rules of the Civil Service Law.

The NLRC chairman is also allowed to appoint staff and employees to regional branches as the need of the service may require.

According to the NLRC, the number of labor cases sometimes increases due to increased economic activities in different regions.

“Thus there is really a need to deploy additional labor arbiters in some regions with rising labor cases,” the NLRC explained.

Baldoz said the deployment of additional commission attorneys would allow the NLRC to resolve more cases and review appealed cases, thus preventing further recourse to the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court.

The Commission on Audit (COA), meanwhile, called the attention of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) over the slow resolution rate of labor disputes under its Single Entry Approach (SEnA) program.

The COA noted the program was supposed to ensure completion of conciliation and mediation procedures within 30 days. – With Michael Punongbayan