MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon (PIA)—The Department of Labor and Employment-Bukidnon Provincial Field Office (DOLE-BPFO)-10 ended labor disputes when it settled the P1,521,848.11 monetary claims and benefits of workers.
DOLE-10 Bukidnon PFO Chief Raul L. Valmores said the workers filed their documents through the Single-Entry Approach (SEnA) program that solved problems on pay and claims benefitting 201 workers from 24 private companies in Bukidnon from January to February 2022.
The SEnA program is a conciliation-mediation process that provides a speedy, impartial, inexpensive, and accessible settlement procedure for all issues and complaints arising from employer-employee relations to prevent them from escalating into full-blown disputes.
“DOLE has resolved issues against their employer involving underpayment of minimum wage, night shift differential, overtime, holiday, 13th month, last salary, separation, and retirement claims, regularization issues, and issuance of certificate of employment,” Valmores said.
He shared that one complainant, a dairy farm production supervisor, sought DOLE-Bukidnon’s advice and filed for SEnA due to unclaimed government-mandated benefits such as holiday pay, night shift differential, service incentive leave pay, and 13th-month pay from a previous employer.
Valmores explained that the complainant was scheduled for a conference with her employer. The first conciliation-mediation conference was done face-to-face. He, however, said the complainant requested an online video conference on the second meeting as she applied for a new job on that same day.
“I was delighted when my former employer agreed to meet through online video conference which made it more convenient with my schedule,” the complainant-beneficiary said.
She said she was confident in narrating her concerns because DOLE-10’s SEnA Desk Officer Ruben Biado took time to listen and assisted her well—the reason that the complaint was settled in just a few days.
That plight was then closed and resolved upon receipt of the complainant’s P39,867.15 check representing the claims through the issuance of the Satisfaction and Release document, while she said she will use the money for pre-employment costs.
“I recommend the SEnA program to all workers whose rights and benefits, as stated in the Labor Code, have been undermined. It is fast and inexpensive compared to filing labor cases that need attorney’s fees. The program really helps workers who are in need, not well represented, and those exploited by their employers,” she said.
Another farm worker-beneficiary also received his long overdue claims worth P10,042.62.
“I filed for complaint. After two days of negotiation, I already received my check. Indeed, SEnA is a big help to workers who don’t have enough money for transportation fares and lawyer fees, among other expenses. With this DOLE program, we can schedule a meeting without having an out-of-town trip. Also, the SEADOs are well trained in handling labor standards, giving you the confidence of receiving the best advice,” the beneficiary said.
Valmores said the blended approach is now possible thru the Electronic SEnA Management Systems (E-SEnaMS). Complaints are filed online as well as the conduct of video conferences.
For workers with labor complaints or issues regarding their employment, they can visit the nearest DOLE-X office through SEnA Desk Officers (SEADO) or file online thru https://sena.dole.gov.ph. (DOLE-Bukidnon/PIA-10/Bukidnon)
