DOLE-7 trains personnel for speedy resolution of cases

CEBU, Philippines - About 30 personnel from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-7) are now being trained for officer duty in all Single Entry Approach Desks (SEADs) to serve as entry points for the speedy resolution of cases affecting workers and employers.

Atty. Ma. Gloria A. Tango, DOLE-7 Regional Director, and National Conciliation and Mediation Executive Director Reynaldo Ubaldo said the program will hasten the pace of the implementation of the 30-day conciliation-mediation approach and will also save time and money in settling labor disputes.

Last week, personnel from the DOLE-7, NCMB, National Labor Relations Commission, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board participated in the workshop which aims to obtain the current implementation status as well as elicit good practices and overcome challenges confronting implementers and provide inputs for a training design to enhance the capability of SEADOs.

The 30-day mandatory conciliation-mediation approach, which shall be made operational through the SEADs, is a reform program in response to the present administration’s directive for DOLE to reform its labor arbitration and adjudication system by streamlining procedures and removing red tape.

Ubaldo praised the quality settlement of single entry-approach in Central Visayas at 80%, but expressed his concern on the remaining 20% which goes to formal adjudication. He encouraged everyone to identify and share strategies and approaches to bring down the number of referrals to formal adjudication as he emphasized the proper handling and processing of the single entry-approach aside from the need to distinguish the role as hearing officer from being a SEADO.  (FREEMAN)