Cebu City, Philippines (22 May 2023). The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-7) awarded more than Half a Million Pesos to 13 affected workers as payment for their money claims and other benefits.

Just last month, the affected workers personally came to the DOLE Regional Office to claim their individual checks.

The monetary awards covered the workers’ claims for underpayment of wages; non-payment of night shift differential pay; non-payment of overtime pay; underpayment/non-payment of 13^th Month pay; underpayment/non-payment of service incentive leave pay; illegal deductions; and non-payment of rest day premium.

DOLE-7 Regional Director, Lilia A. Estillore said that such ws an offshoot of the Department’s advocacy of making sure that that cases lodged before DOLE-7 are being religiously acted upon and closely attended to up until execution.

The worker’s awards ranged from Php5,000.00 to as big as Php115,000.00 depending on the nature of their claims.

For the said workers’ cases, the Writ of Execution was issued on 13 March 2023. “During the pre-execution conference that was scheduled a few days after on the same month, both parties agreed to settle through the release of the cash bond, which was deposited with the DOLE VII Cashier’s Office,” said Director Estillore, who underscored the importance of the successful execution of cases so that the decisions made are not only considered as paper victory for the workers.

She urged the workers in Central Visayas to also help DOLE-7 monitor the compliance of establishments to labor laws by reporting any violations they have observed to any DOLE Offices nearest their residence.

The affected workers thanked the DOLE for the support and for seeing to it that their cases are successfully and fairly resolved.

“We are duty-bound to ensuring that we serve and enforce all writs and services to the best of our capacity and ability insofar as the execution of cases is concerned. And rest assured that DOLE will continue to respect, promote and protect the rights and welfare of the workers in the workplaces,” Director Estillore finally said.

 

End//LSenarlo-Taniza

For more information on this report, you may contact LuchelSenarloTaniza, Regional Labor Information Officer, by sending an email at ro7@dole.gov.ph.