Over P4.2-B worth of bargaining benefits, monetary claims awarded to 83,039 workers
By Samuel Medenilla
Over P4.2 billion worth of bargaining benefits and monetary claims has been awarded to 83,039 workers through the mediation and conciliation efforts of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) since President Duterte started his term.
In a statement, Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the amount came from 53,958 labor dispute cases settled by DOLE through its Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism from July 2016 up to December 2017.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
“Alternative dispute resolution is our strategy to ensure speedy delivery of labor justice. We have sustained industrial peace through the fast settlement of labor disputes,” said Bello citing the report of the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB).
The ADR includes the Single Entry Approach (SEnA), notices of strike/lockout (NS/L) cases, and preventive meditation (PM) incidents.
Based from the NCMB report, the bulk or 53,148 of the labor cases during the 18-month period were resolved through SEnA. It benefited 67,815 workers with P2.149 billion in monetary benefits.
For notices of strike/lockout (NS/L) cases, NCMB settled 207 cases giving 13,821 workers monetary awards amounting to P1.915 billion.
Lastly, NCMB was also able to resolve 603 PM cases yielding P185.152 million monetary gains to 4,103 workers.
Among the notable cases settled by DOLE during the period were Rubberworld Philippines Inc., Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Novartis Health Care Philippines Inc., Capitol Medical Center, and Pepsi Cola Philippines Inc.
Bello noted these cases were resolved through the series of conciliation and mediation meetings held by Labor Undersecretary Joel Maglunsod and NCMB with the parties involved.
He said they would intensify the implementation of the ADR this year to maintain the country's existing industrial peace.