LEGAZPI CITY -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Bicol and the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Tuesday, setting up NLRC satellite offices in DOLE field offices in Masbate City and Daet, an official said on Wednesday.
Johana Vi Gasga, DOLE public information officer, said under the agreement, the NLRC-Regional Arbitration Branch (RAB)-5 will receive complaints from the satellite offices through email and issue summons.
The summons shall state the date of mandatory conciliation and mediation conferences which shall be scheduled on three consecutive Thursdays, the first setting at least 15 days after the date of mailing of the summons.
DOLE-Bicol will then issue a referral for compulsory arbitration if the parties fail to reach a settlement during the Single Entry Approach (SEnA) proceedings.
The latter shall also act as complaint officer authorized to administer oaths, receive complaints and transmit duly accomplished complaint form through email to the NLRC-RAB 5.
The MOA was signed by DOLE-Bicol regional director Joel M. Gonzales and NLRC-RAB 5 executive labor arbiter Jose C. del Valle Jr.
Gonzales, at the signing ceremony, said the agreement is to bring closer to the clients the services that they deserve in the most economical, effective and efficient means.
“This shows the strongly-founded relationship of DOLE and NLRC in Bicol,” he said.
“With the provision of the NLRC satellite offices in Masbate and Camarines Norte, access to quasi-judicial courts and the expeditious among their basic rights are likewise guaranteed,” said lawyer Joan Noya-Nidua, DOLE Bicol Med-Arbiter, who witnessed the MOA signing.
Del Valle said the two agencies may now better serve all its clients in the provinces of Camarines Norte and Masbate.
“Because of this MOA, all our clients who are workers as well employers in the said provinces need not go to Naga City anymore and spend time and money just to file their complaint or papers with the NLRC Sub RAB Naga,” he said.
“We will be freeing these people particularly the workers from unnecessary expenses,” del Valle added.
DOLE is mandated to protect workers, promote their welfare and maintain industrial peace.
NLRC, on the other hand, is tasked to promote and maintain industrial peace by resolving, in the fairest, quickest, least expensive and most effective way possible, labor and management disputes involving both local and overseas workers through compulsory arbitration and alternative modes of dispute resolution. (PNA)
