Regional Director Ofelia B. Domingo said that the amount represented underpayment of wages and non-payment overtime voluntarily settled under the Single-Entry Approach (SEnA) Program of the department.
SEnA is a reform measure institutionalized in all DOLE Offices to provide a speedy, impartial, inexpensive and accessible settlement procedure for labor issues to prevent them from ripening into full blown disputes and cases.
The security guards/beneficiaries were employees of contractor Red Force Viking Security Agency assigned at Mega Shop-o-Rama, Gov. Lim Avenue, Zamboanga City.
“They initially brought the matter to Raffy Tulfo In Action sometime in February of this year. We acted on their Request for Assistance immediately. The company agreed for the immediate payment of monetary benefits to the workers. The final settlement was realized under strict observance of wearing of face mask, physical distancing and disinfection procedure for all parties,” Director Domingo further explained.
Director Domingo further commended all the parties for the patience, cooperation and sacrifice, especially the employer’s part, for going the extra mile by proving their workers with five (5) kilos of rice and canned goods on top of the payment.
Security Guard Mukim D. Sabri, spokesperson of the group, encouraged his colleagues to maximize the benefits received from their employer and appreciated the latter’s gesture in this very challenging crisis. He expressed sigh of relief upon receipt of P 12,000.00.
“Nagbunga din ang mga sakripisyo namin. (Our sacrifices finally came to fruition),” Sabri said.
END /kcgrafia with reports from TSSD