TARLAC CITY -- Some 12 displaced radio station workers recently received their P1,232,900.99 small money claims with the help of the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole).
DOLE Regional Director Zenaida Angara-Campita reported to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III that the settlement emanated from a response to a complaint letter received by the DOLE Tarlac Field Office.
“Our field office, through routine inspection, responded to an anonymous complaint on various labor issues raised against a certain local radio station employing DJs, talent announcers, technicians, IT staff, drivers, watchmen, and utility personnel,” Campita said.
Labor violations found during inspection include underpayment of wages, non-coverage of social benefits (SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG), non-regularization of workers, non-provision of pay slips, and interference on disposal of wages.
Other violations cited from the inspection include non-payments on overtime, rest day premium, regular and special holidays, night differential, and service incentive leave (SIL).
The said deficiencies identified by the labor agency affected at least 22 workers who have been with Radio Corporation of the Philippines for many years.
The DOLE facilitated a “Single Entry Approach (SEnA) type” - Mandatory Conference to address the labor issues according to DOLE Tarlac Field Office head Aurita Laxamana.
“As a strategy, we have invited both parties for a mandatory conference to hear their sides and exhausted all necessary and reasonable means to speedily and objectively solve their labor disputes,” Laxamana explained, adding:
“We chose the SEnA because it’s already a proven, sought-after, and inexpensive strategic mediation program of the Labor Department that is able to address various labor issues which often times can be resolved within its 30-day prescribed period.”
Senior Labor and Employment Officer Allan Tolentino added that it only took one mandatory conference for both parties to agree with in settling their issues.
“The labor issues of both parties were narrowed to underpayment of wages and 13th month pay; non-payment of holiday pay, special holiday premium, and SIL; and non-regularization of workers,” Tolentino explained.
The “SEnA – styled” mandatory conference that only lasted for an hour resulted to various win-win solutions for all parties involved.
Twelve of the 22 affected workers already mentioned above opted to part ways with the company and received P1,232,900.99 money claims for their separation pay and other back wages.
Meanwhile, four other workers were regularized while another 6 workers who preferred to remain as “talents” were given more “attractive contracts” by their employer.
Campita has commended the efforts of the DOLE Tarlac Field Office and all parties involved in resolving the labor issues peacefully, speedily, and inexpensively.
“We thank our people from DOLE Tarlac for a job well done. We likewise laud both workers and management representatives for their cooperation and willingness to iron out their differences by showing mutual respect for each other. Indeed, this is the beauty of mediation through SEnA and our mandatory conference,” Campita said.
For more questions about the Dole’s SEnA program, interested parties may inquire through the various contact numbers of the DOLE regional and field offices through its official website. (PR)