COMPUTATIONS for night differential and 13th month pay were among the top concerns callers raised with the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) 7’s Hotline Call Service.
In a statement, the labor agency said the 24/7 hotline service accommodated 1,342 calls in 2018, with questions and complaints related to isses on the general labor standards and standards of occupaltional safety and health.
“The data we gathered manifested our clients’ heightened awareness on the facility that they could take advantage of in relaying their grievances, questions, and concerns at work to the Dole,” said Dole 7 Director Johnson Cañete.
Many of the calls were questions about holiday rules, overtime pay, underpayment of wages and complaints about some establishments allegedly violating labor laws.
Callers also brought up concerns from the management side, with many human resource managers clarifying matters on company policies and management prerogative.
Hotline numbers
Dole 7 maintains hotline numbers (032) 512-8133 and (0977) 6109202 operating 24/7, which are being handled by hotline assistance officers (HAO) from each field office and division. The implementation of the region’s Hotline Call Service helped increase customers’ awareness of their rights and responsibilities, said officer-in-cahrge Assistant Director Roy L. Buenafe.
“Workers have become more knowledgeable about the various programs and services of the department. While attending to calls, the HAOs likewise seized every opportunity to promote the Single Entry Approach, which is the first step being resorted to in settling employer-employee conflicts,” he said.
The most number of calls was in July, with 154 calls. The hotline got 149 calls in October and 148 calls in February.
Dole 7’s Hotline Call Service was launched three years ago, in response to the order of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, who called for Dole regional offices to provide clients with faster and more responsive call services. (MEA WITH PR)