Over 8K workers in R6 recover P330-M in benefits through SEnA

ILOILO CITY - The government's Single-entry Approach (SEnA) implemented by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) helped recover some PHP330.58 million in benefits for 8,526 workers in Western Visayas from 2022 until August this year. 'SEnA provides speedy, impartial, inexpensive, and accessible procedures to work issues and conflicts,' DOLE6 OIC assistant regional director Melisa Navarra said in an interview on Wednesday. Data showed an increasing percentage of settlement rate among workers and employers, starting with 81.19 percent in 2022, 80.57 percent in 2023, and 86.28 percent from January to August this year. DOLE 6 mediator-arbiter Lawyer Divine Grace B. Gabunas, in a follow-up interview on Wednesday, said most complaints are usually on minimum wage concerns, issues involving domestic workers, and health concerns, among others. She said upon receipt of the request for assistance, SEnA would try to settle the concern within 30 days, otherwise the establishment will be subjected to inspectio n. However, if there is no employer-employee relationship, the concern is endorsed to the National Labor Relations Commission. Meanwhile, in Central Visayas, the agency was able to settle 4,807 requests for assistance through SEnA, benefitting 6,179 workers who received a total settlement amounting to PHP281.8 million of monetary awards, Lilia Estillore, DOLE-Region 7 director, said. The agency conducted onsite inspections of 10,947 establishments to ensure labor standards compliance. Also, a total of 19,971 individuals in the region have benefitted from DOLE's Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program worth PHP291 million, she said. The amount was disbursed by the agency from July 2022 to June 2024. (With a report from John Rey Saavedra/PNA) Source: Philippines News Agency