Going into a series of scheduled conferences on August 15, 2013, the National Conciliation and Mediation Board Regional Branch No. 1 settled three SEnA requests for assistance (RFA).

 

“The Branch is all too glad to be able to settle these RFAs and help our customers by facilitating the provision of their financial claims,” OIC Director Helena R. Flores said, citing reports of SEADO Felicidad Q. Corpuz who handled the facilitation of the RFAs. “We commend the full and extended effort of SEADO Corpuz for the sake of settling the RFAs,” Flores added.

 

Seven workers from a distribution firm and ten workers from a gasoline station all came to file their RFAs on July 31, 2013. The third RFA came in on August 1, 2013 involving two employees.

 

Their issues include unpaid wages and 13th month pay, service incentive leave benefits, and non-remittance of SSS, Philhealth, and Pag-ibig contributions. With the earnest intervention of the Branch through SEADO Corpuz, all three respondents to the RFAs willingly agreed to give the financial benefits claimed by them.

 

The workers from the distribution firm received a total of P57, 877.33 to cover 13th month and holiday pay, service incentive leave benefits, premium contributions and half of the hospital bill of one of them who was unable to claim assistance from Philhealth for lack of contributions resulting from the employer’s non-remittance of his contributions.

 

The ten gasoline station workers stood to receive P40, 297.28 to cover unpaid wages and respective separation pays only for those who have rendered at least one year of service.

 

One of the two female workers at the cooperative was given her 13th month pay amounting to P6, 558.56 after the immediate action done by her employer prior to the conference. Unfortunately, her coworker is doubtful to receive any remaining amount from her supposed pay due to unaccounted deficits.

 

 A total of P104, 733.17 worth of money claims was facilitated by the Branch within the day. Eighteen workers were benefited from the said amount.

 

(Lester B. Panem)