Legazpi City – Workers’ due payments and employments benefits that the Department Labor and Employment (DOLE) Bicol has settled in 2019 have reached over P45 million.
About 2,220 workers in the region have benefitted from the simplified and fast resolution of labor issues from the Single Entry Approach (SEnA) program.
DOLE Bicol has settled 1,346 request for assistance from January to December 2019 with monetary settlement amounting to P45,428, 453,01.
Regional Director Joel M. Gonzales commended the dedicated efforts and effective handling of settlement by the SEnA Desk Officers (SEADOs) in the region and provincial field offices that resulted to 85% settlement rate.
“With the acquired skill in voluntary conciliation and mediation, our competent field SEADOs were able to secure the most favorable agreement to both parties,” he said.
The workers’ monetary claims were mostly on underpayment of wages, non-payment of holiday pay, premium pay, overtime pay and 13th month pay and, separation pay.
The month of June posted the highest amount of settlement awarded to affected workers at P12.3M. It was followed by the month of November that registered over P7M in monetary claimas.
Based on the records of the PFO accomplishments, Camarines Sur Provincial Field Office (PFO) settled 510 RFAs which led to the awarding of P11,247,486.33 in monetary benefits to workers. While Albay PFO has the highest monetary restitutions or awards to affected workers in the amount of P11,559,123.86.
The report also shows that Sorsogon has awarded P5,741,029.98; Camarines Norte with P14,072,540.44; Catanduanes with P1,067,047.53; Masbate with P1,028,166.53 and TSSD with P713,059.04
Under SEnA, desk officers make use of conciliation-mediation through a speedy, impartial, inexpensive and settlement of labor issues arising from employee-employer relations.
Complaints are subject to 30-day mandatory conciliation-mediation services hoping to reach a settlement agreement within the period in consultation with the parties.