NEARLY P2 billion in monetary benefits were facilitated by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and attached agencies for more than 30,600 workers through the Single Entry Approach (SEnA) settlement procedure.
In a data released by the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB), monetary benefits amounting to P711,605,950 were given to 21,775 workers as facilitated by DOLE regional offices; P183,346,738 for 1,990 workers through the NCMB; and P1,084,099,954 for 8,879 workers through the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC).
The DOLE has handled 50,022 requests for assistance through the SEnA, including 27,696 from regional offices, 2,640 from the NCMB, and 19,686 from the NLRC. These included requests for assistance carried over from the previous year.
Of the assistance requests filed, issues on violations of labor standards such as non-payment or underpayment of wages and claims for mandated pays, leaves, and benefits topped the list of concerns at 85,032.
Claims on separation and indemnity benefits followed with 11,376, illegal dismissal and constructive dismissal with 10,302, non-issuance of certificate of employment with 3,451, grievable issues (collective bargaining agreement violations and personnel actions) with 2,432, maltreatment or harassment with 1,809, and regularization or contractualization with 1,224.
Other issues raised before SEnA involved medical and financial assistance; release of cash/gun/license bonds, refunds of work-related expenses; claims of unpaid commission or incentives; and non-remittance of mandatory contributions.
There were still 3,681 assistance requests undergoing conciliation-mediation hearings as of the end of June.
SEnA is the DOLE’s platform to prevent full-blown disputes and labor cases through providing accessible, speedy, inexpensive, and impartial procedures.
