The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) continues to strengthen public access to timely and reliable labor assistance as its Hotline 1349 addressed more than 42,000 worker concerns nationwide during the third quarter of 2025.
Operated by DOLE’s Information and Publication Service, the DOLE Call Center remains a trusted channel for workers and employers seeking advice on pay disputes, benefits, and other workplace issues, supporting President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directives for a responsive and people-centered government that prioritizes workers’ welfare and access to accurate labor and employment information.
From July to September, the call center received a total of 41,695 assistance requests, comprised of 14,535 voice calls, 15,258 Facebook direct messages, and 11,902 emails. This generated 42,589 queries on various labor and employment-related concerns, bringing the Department’s total of inquiries for the first three quarters of 2025 (Q1 to Q3) to 115,183.
Most queries were on labor standards with 22,042 queries (72 percent), followed by employment facilitation with 6,765 (22 percent), social protection and welfare with 1,651 (5 percent), and labor relations with 229 (1 percent).
Among labor standards concerns, the top issues were final pay compliance with 5,071 queries (23 percent), holiday pay computation with 2,457 (11 percent), and the new minimum wage guidelines with 1,653 (7 percent). Workers also sought advice on 13th-month pay with 1,621 queries (4 percent) and due process in termination with 1,204 (4.52 percent).
For employment facilitation, most queries focused on local employment, with 5,649 (84 percent), while questions on probationary rules and alien employment permits followed, with 355 (5 percent) and 323 (5 percent), respectively. The hotline also received 96 inquiries about the Government Internship Program (GIP) and 94 reports of losses and damages, each at 1 percent.
Under social protection, non-remittance of mandatory benefits accounted for 731 queries (44 percent), followed by maternity leave with 401 (24 percent) and work-related accident or death benefits, with 241 (15 percent). The hotline also received 173 queries on suspension (1 percent) and 67 on taxation (4 percent).
The Department also cited the increasing volume of inquiries over the last nine months as an indicator of the public’s growing trust in the public hotline for their concerns.
DOLE further commits to ensuring that every worker’s voice is heard and acted upon through faster, more responsive, and compassionate public service.
Hotline 1349 operates Monday to Friday, from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Workers and employers may also send concerns by emailing hotline1349@dole.gov.ph or sending a direct message to the DOLE Facebook page (fb.com/laborandemploymentph).
