A TOP official of the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) said the office had managed to settle 42 labor disputes through the Single Entry Approach (Sena) since January in Zamboanga City.

Sena is an administrative approach to provide a speedy, impartial, inexpensive and accessible settlement procedure for all issues and complaints arising from employer-employee relations to prevent them from ripening into full blown disputes.

Dole-Zamboanga City officer Ian Lahi said all labor and employment disputes shall undergo a 30-day mandatory conciliation-mediation process to effect settlement among the contending parties under the Sena approach.

Lahi said that both the complainant (employee) and the respondent (employer) will be summoned to his office to resolve the problem within a 30-day period.

Majority of the 42 labor disputes they have settled through Sena involve non-payment and delayed payment of salaries, Lahi said.