DOLE awards P400M in labor compensation

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment-7 had awarded last year P407,338,229 to at least 3,678 workers who filed complaints against employers committing various labor laws violations under its Single Entry Approach program.

DOLE-7 acting director Exequiel R. Sarcauga said the number of Requests for Assistance they received had reached 1,608, of which more than 1,500 were disposed.

Sarcauga in a statement said that they were able to settle 81.41 percent of the RFAs they received.

“We are happy to note that we were able to help more workers as well as employers resolve their concerns by way of providing them an avenue whereby issues and problems at work are discussed in a non-adversarial, non-litigious, inexpensive, and speedy manner,” said Sarcauga.

Sarcauga said that the notable increase in the disposition rate of the RFAs received in 2015 can be credited to the Single Entry Approach Desk Officers (SEADOs) of the DOLE and its field offices working to resolve issues between workers and employers through conciliation and mediation.

In 2014, DOLE received a total of 1,964 RFAs with 94 percent disposition rate and 74 percent settlement rate.

The amount awarded, he disclosed, was P36,512,018 for the whole year benefiting more than 2,000 workers.

With the progress in RFA settlement, Sarcauga encouraged all SEADOs to perform more in resolving labor issues.

He reiterated the importance of the huge impact that the SEnA made to lesser number of cases lodged at the National Labor Relations Commission.

“I am encouraging once more any aggrieved worker, union, group of workers or employers to go to the nearest office or agency offering SEnA services and file request for assistance should they have complaints which can be accommodated under the program,” he said.

Aside from the DOLE, other agencies offering SEnA services are the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board, National Labor Relations Commission-Regional Arbitration Branch and National Conciliation and Mediation Board.  (FREEMAN)