We often hear the statement “Walang hindi nakukuha sa mabuting usapan.” It sounds absolutely capable, is it not? Not all the time. But it does work. How well? Actually, it’s pretty much effective.   

 

Introduced by the DOLE [in October 201O through D.O. 107 - 10], the SEnA is a reform measure that seeks not only to promptly resolve labor disputes.  It aims to simplify the process of settling work-related issues and concerns through mandatory conciliation and mediation of all labor cases within a 30-day period. (N. Fameronag, The Philippine Labor, 2011)

 

Conciliation and mediation is perhaps as old as we can remember. We naturally resort to peaceful communication in the effort to temper brewing and boiling misunderstandings. We observe many of such instances in parents resolving children’s conflicts, teachers clearing out squabbles among students, and barangay captains settling disputes of residents. Whatever the case, the goal is only one thing: PEACE.

 

While it is not a given that everything could be settled through talks, it is, most often than not, the primeval and primary mode of dispute resolution that men have known.

 

SEnA is no different. It is simple “peace talks” between the employer and employee initiated by the DOLE or its attached agencies (NCMB, NLRC, OWWA, POEA, etc.) after a request for assistance (RFA) is filed by a complainant, almost all the time, the employee. Both parties are given the chance to iron things out with the assistance of the SEnA Desk Officer (SEADO) acting as the conciliator-mediator. In the process, parties arrive at a settlement beneficial to both whereby they sign a compromise agreement in the presence of the SEADO stating everything they have agreed upon.

 

Common issues involve underpayment and non-payment of wages, illegal dismissal, non-payment of overtime pays and night-shift differential, non-compliance to other lawful benefits due to workers, even non-remittance [to SSS, Philhealth and Pag-ibig] of mandatory deductions and others.

 

In Region 1, the NCMB Regional Branch No. 1 has come across a variety of employees that have been benefited by SEnA. Security guards, cooks, collectors, baggers, inn helpers, sales agents, bus drivers, promodizers, bakers, clerks, messengers, hollow block makers and others have come to the Branch, sought assistance, and all have come to a satisfactory settlement with their respective employers within two hours, at the least, to a few working days from filing the RFA.

 

Within its first year of implementation alone, the Department and its attached agencies were able to facilitate a total of P364.1 M worth of money claims benefiting 19, 183 workers in the whole country.

 

The good thing about SEnA is that it incurs the least of expenses saving time, money and effort. It also effectively avoids troublesome lawsuits by doing everything in the informal, humane way of conversing – just like the old-fashioned way.

 

That is SEnA.

 

(Lester B. Panem)