San Fernando, Pampanga—The government has settled 99 percent of labor disputes in Central Luzon involving P160 million in compensation, benefitting 5,785 workers under its Single Entry Approach program.
Regional Director Zenaida Angara-Campita of the Department of Labor and Employment said they settled about 2,234 out of the total 2,250 labor cases in Central Luzon, mostly monetary claims lodged by workers under the program for year 2018.
Campita said the resolutions were attributed to their requests to the companies for assistance to benefit the workers.
The remaining 16 labor cases were forwarded to the National Labor Relation Commission for resolution. The regional office disposed of 100 percent of labor disputers who requested assistance under program, Campita said.
Requests for assistance, specially those involving monetary claims, can be settled within three to eight working days under SENA, she added.
Bulacan led the other provinces in the region with monetary benefits amounting to P79.5 million for 1,069 workers.
Pampanga followed with P41.20 million for 2,800 workers; Tarlac P20.42 million for 659 workers; Zambales, P9.21 million for 545 workers; Nueva Ecija, P3.61 million for 244 workers; and Aurora, P1.46 million for 56 workers. Bataan had no disputes to settle under the program.
The DOLE regional office was able also to settle a monetary claim amounting to P43 million involving 39 workers in the region, Campita added.