BAGUIO CITY – The DOLE–Baguio-Benguet Field Office (DOLE-BBFO), through the Single-Entry Approach (SEnA), assists in the settlement of the alleged non-payment of wages amounting to PhP836,897.19 for thirty-eight (38) construction workers in Baguio City.
In a series of conferences, the DOLE-BBFO SEnA Desk Officer (SEADO) Engr. Jose R. Gamad Jr., Sr. Labor and Employment Officer (Sr. LEO), assisted in the mediation of the concerns between the requesting party and the respondents. During the conferences, the parties ironed-out the issues and concerns regarding the alleged non-payment of wages.
The respondent-employer agreed to pay the wages of all the workers, notwithstanding the principal employer’s settlement with the workers’ construction company. The respondent included in the payment those who did not file a Request for Assistance (RFA) with the DOLE Field Office.
Due to the alleged nonpayment of their wage for November, the workers have filed their complaint. They have been engaged with the construction company for almost six months prior to its referral.
Under the Labor Code of the Philippines (Presidential Decree No. 442), wages must be paid on time, either at least once every two weeks or twice a month, with intervals not exceeding 16 days (Article 103). Payment delays beyond these intervals are unlawful unless with justifiable reasons, such as force majeure or extraordinary circumstances beyond the employer’s control.
Employers who fail to pay wages on time may face legal consequences, including penalties and orders from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to immediately compensate workers for unpaid wages.
Workers experiencing delayed payments can seek resolution through DOLE’s Single-Entry Approach program or pursue legal remedies. This ensures that workers’ rights to timely and fair compensation are protected while promoting compliance among employers.
The SEnA program offers a fast, affordable, and non-adversarial way to resolve labor disputes through Single Entry Assistance Desks (SEADs) in DOLE offices nationwide. Using conciliation-mediation facilitated by trained officers, disputes are settled amicably within 30 days without legal fees. It addresses issues like wage claims, benefit non-payment, and termination disputes, protecting workers’ rights, easing court congestion, and promoting industrial peace and better employer-employee relationships.
The workers expressed their gratitude to the DOLE for the very timely assistance given. By Daryll B. Ponard
