DOLE Reiterates Effectiveness Of SEnA In Resolving Labor Disputes

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz on Sunday urged officials and employees of the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) to continue facilitating the conciliation-mediation in resolving labor disputes and sustaining industrial peace in the country.

“The conciliation-mediation through the Single Entry Approach (SEnA) as dispute settlement mechanism has helped in maintaining harmony at workplaces, thus it should be sustained to ensure better industrial relations” she added.

Speaking at the 28th founding anniversary of the NCMB in Quezon City, Secretary Baldoz then highlighted the notable accomplishments of the Board in fostering and maintaining the country’s peaceful industrial climate.

She noted that aside from its steadfast commitment to promptly and efficiently settle labor disputes using the Single Entry Approach (SEnA) that paved the way for the decrease in strikes to a single digit level, the NCMB has also begun facilitating the convergence of DOLE programs through its regional offices. This approach, Baldoz added, has enhanced labor-management cooperation (LMC) efforts and subsequently minimized labor-management disputes.

“These programs are continuing, which means, if we want to sustain the gains and pursue further action to move towards the vision of having a relatively peaceful industrial climate conducive for investment and long term inclusive growth, then we need to continuously strive harder and affirm with the government’s drive of Daang Matuwid,” Baldoz said.

She also lauded the NCMB’s continuing efforts in conciliation-mediation, citing that in 2015, the number of work stoppages has been maintained within manageable level and no conciliation-mediation cases were assumed jurisdiction by the Secretary of Labor and Employment.

“The Single Entry Approach (SEnA) must be pushed to its maximum to cover more institutions, such as the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and benefit them and their workers from the program in terms of addressing labor disputes at the workplace,” she added.

Baldoz noted that in the same year, the NCMB has strengthened its labor-management cooperation (LMC) efforts by organizing the Outstanding LMC for Industrial Peace Award. This biennial event gathers more than 1,000 LMC experts, advocates and practitioners, and has recognized companies with best workplace cooperation and practices that helped in attaining industrial peace.

“You have remained committed in sustaining inclusive labor-management cooperation through various promotional and technical assistance activities to ensure that labor-management dispute settlement will be maximized accordingly,” she said.

She further noted that in 28 September 2015, the Board was granted the ISO-9001-2008 Accreditation by the Anglo-Japanese American Registrar for its existing programs and projects.

“This certification formed part of the 33 DOLE’s regional offices, services, bureaus and attached agencies who have underwent stringent evaluation thus, conforming to ISO-9001:2008 quality management system standards,” she added.

Joining Secretary Baldoz during the event were former DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, NCMB OIC-Executive Director Shirley Pascual, Bureau of Labor Relations Director Benjo Santos Benavidez, Federation of Free Workers President Atty. Sonny Matula, and volunteer labor arbiter Allan Montaño.

The NCMB’s founding anniversary theme is, “28 Years of Dedicated Service”. (DOLE)