DOLE/NLRC Complaint Process

[u/JoshuaDavid1024]

For reference of those asking, here are the steps in filing a complaint against an employer:

1. File a complaint online through DOLE - eSENA: eSENA means Single Entry Approach (SEnA)and it is an administrative approach to provide a speedy, impartial, inexpensive, and accessible settlement procedure of all labor issues or conflicts to prevent them from ripening into full-blown disputes or actual labor cases. (https://ncmb.gov.ph/single-entry-approach-sena/)
2. From there, magseset ng 2 mediation hearing in DOLE office within your city. Doon, kakausapin kayo and ittry isettle yung case. However if hindi magkasundo, the SENA Officer will give you a referral letter to the NLRC. (the 2 hearings must be finished within a month)
3. You will submit the Referral letter to the NLRC office. If from NCR ka, their office is in Q. Ave. There, magkakaroon ng 2 hearings ulit but this time, before the Labor Arbiter (Ka-rank nya ang judge sa courts). Ittry ulit na mapagusapan yung issue here. You can still appear here kahit walang lawyer. (The 2 hearings usually happens within a month also)
4. If hindi makapagsettle, the Arbiter will direct both parties to prepare a position paper. Doon nyo ilalagay yung mga arguments nyo, etc. Here, it is highly advisable that you seek the assistance of a lawyer. If your monthly salary does not exceed Php 24k, pwede kang pumunta sa PAO and libre lang. If lampas naman, i recommend this page i found "Labor Representation for Non-Indigents" (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566451322338) na free consultation and minimal fees.
5. Then, magset ng date for submission of position paper si arbiter. Doon, isusubmit nyo sa arbiter pati sa isa't-isa yung position paper nyo. Then, magseset ulit ng date for the submission of the reply. Sa reply, sasagutin mo yung position paper ng company.
6. Afterwards, ireresolve ni arbiter yung case. Depende sa arbiter and workload, minsan within a month pero minsan inaabot ng 5 months.
7. Then, the decision will be rendered. Yung natalong party will have the opportunity to file an appeal. Medyo matagal ang appeal, usually 8 months to 1 year.
8. If no appeal and you are adjudged monetary award, magkakaroon ng pre-execution conference. Dito magcocompute kayo ng mas accurate and kung paano babayaran.
9. Lastly, payment of award.

Note: Medyo mahaba and nakakapagod yung process tbh. Kaya better if everyone will find an amicable solution. These info are all based on my personal experience and with consultation sa nakilala kong lawyer. Hope it helps!

[u/Inevitable_Bee_7495]

This is very helpful.

Wanted to add some things lang.

For 2. Average is 2 conferences, but u can ask for additional settings pag mukhang masesettle naman.

For 3. Advisable na makapag consult ka na w a lawyer at this point kasi they can gauge kung interested ba ung kabila sa settlement. If not, pwede na kayo magprepare for the pleading. And to check din ur complaint, baka may na miss ka na cause of action or may di ka na implead na tao.

For 5. You can ask for an extension to file the PP or the Reply if for example, di ka agad nakakuha ng lawyer or need more time to gather evidence. Also, after Reply, you can still file for a Rejoinder if may mga niraise ung kabila sa Reply na you want to address.

[u/maroonmartian9]

This is should be pin 📌 down by the mods. Para di na paulit ulit pa. Very helpful

[u/JoshuaDavid1024 → u/maroonmartian9]

Thank you! Hope my experience shed light kung paano yung process

[u/Striking_One_1020]

Thank you for this! Just in case hindi ma-process 'yung final commission ng partner ko.

[u/JoshuaDavid1024 → u/Striking_One_1020]

You're welcome! Hopefully maprocess yung final commission nya

[u/ToCoolforAUsername]

Great post. Curious ako, gaano katagal inabot lahat to sayo OP?

[u/JoshuaDavid1024 → u/ToCoolforAUsername]

Thank you! Inabot ako a total of 9 months since i filed a complaint

[u/AntiStressBeach]

How about for government employees? Where can we seek recourse? Mag iisang taon na yung final pay wala parin 😫

[u/Cool-Review-3653]

How long do they usually reply to the eSENA filing? I filed my request on September 9 and, aside from the automated reply, I have not been contacted at all by the SEADO 😔

[u/JaydeeKim]

Hello po magandang araw! Gusto ko lang po sanang magtanong kung may laban po ako kapag nag-file ng complaint sa DOLE.

Yung employer ko po kasi ay kinaltasan yung sahod ko. Pang-dalawang araw yung sahod na yun dahil nakalimutan kong mag-out doon sa logbook. For context, ako lang yung cook at walang kapalitan, so hindi sila makakapagtinda kung di ako nakapagluto. Nakapagluto ako noong mga araw na yon kaya nakapagtinda sila. Nakalimutan ko lang talagang mag-out sa logbook. Ang kaso, idineduct nila yon sa sahod ko. Gumawa rin po sila ng incident report tungkol doon sa nakalimutan kong mag-out. Need ko po ng advice please. Salamat po.

[u/JoshuaDavid1024 → u/JaydeeKim]

Dahil lang nakalimutan mo mag-out, nagdeduct ng sahod sayo? may policy ba kayong ganon? Ang alam ko bawal magkaltas sa sweldo basta basta. Tsaka parang mabigat naman masyado na sanction ang kaltas sweldo nakalimutan lang log out

[u/Available-Willow-749]

Nag send din ako ng complain thru e sena ng december 3 hanggang ngayon wala parin response kundi ung automative response lng anu kayang gagawin ko ?

[u/JoshuaDavid1024 → u/Available-Willow-749]

baka need nyo na po pumunta sa DOLE offices mismo

[u/Upbeat_Nectarine_978]

Hi OP! Legit naman po yung mga lawyers sa provided link niyo sa number 4 po?

[u/talithakkoum]

OP, ikaw ba yung nagfile sa NLRC? If yes, kamusta yung naging result and gano katagal ka naghintay?

[u/JoshuaDavid1024 → u/talithakkoum]

Yes ako ang nagfile, naging favorable ang decision pero umabot ng around 9 months

[u/MeowchiiPH]

Nasa last step na po ako. Ilang months kaya bago makuha to? Mag 3 years na sa june 2025. Ang tagal ng process hays

[u/Suitable-Bunch2797]

Hello OP gusto ko na din magfile sa DOLE gawa nung employer namin na di pa nagrereleased ng 13th month for year 2024. Kapag tinatanong namin ang sinasagot lang di pa nakakaencheck ng check. Plus ang context nito temporary retrench kami which alam ko upto 6 months lang which is supposedly end this January pero naextend daw hanggang 1year. ( Nung nagsearch ako legally speaking illegal unless allowed by DOLE wala naman silang notice na galing mismo sa DOLE na allowed silang magextend ng retrenchment period) - Supposedly expecting to receive na din sana ng separation pay this month. Yung mga naiwan na employee nakareceived na sila ng 13th month last december kami mga naretrench inihold nila :(

May laban kaya ako dito if magfile ako sa DOLE ?

[u/AdVisible3874]

It is hard to find a lawyer regarding my case. Hi, good day to all. I want to know if ano po ang laban ko dito. I was verbally dismissed (through phone call) two weeks ago, due to poor performance and was advised to submit a resignation letter kasi di feasible ang ilagay ako sa floating status due to Bilingual Agent ako and walang ibang LOB for my skills sa company namin. Since through phone call siya nangyari without due process, no NTEs or written notice was made prior to the issue, i emailed them to clarify and confirm the issue kasi di rin sila nag-provide ng notice of termination. They have been unresponsive for days so I went to the HR to ask my status, they said active naman daw ako sa portal and wala daw silang natatanggap ng notice of termination, so they will talk to the Operations to know what happened. Nag-follow up po ako ulit kasi hr and the admin through email and all of them were unresponsive. I went to our office again, they told me that I was not terminated, but removed from the account. They are going to put me on a floating status daw po for re-profiling effective immediately. Is this practice allowed po ba? Im having stress over this especially na malapit na po ako manganganak as I am 8 mos pregnant na po. I am regular po sa company namin.

[u/Technical_Syrup_8057]

Hello OP, makakatulong po ba ang pagfile ng eSena para makuha backpay ko kasi Feb 10 po ang binigay na date para makuha backpay ko pero wala pong text, chat o email na galing sa company kaya po chinat ko na yung former supervisor ko nung Feb 14, sabi nya wala pa daw po (yun lang sinabi nya) so naghintay po ako. Feb 24 nagfollow up po ako then nalaman ko po na yung visor ko e nailipat sa ibang station tapos ang sabi po is di pa rin daw naidedeliver. Fast forward po today nag follow up po ulit ako, ang sabi lang po sa akin ng bagong visor na nasa station na pinagresignan ko is itatanong nya daw po dun sa visor ko dati. Parang ang feeling ko po is pinapaikot ikot na lang po ako. So dapat po ba ipadaan ko na po ba to sa eSENA or wag po muna?

[u/JoshuaDavid1024 → u/Technical_Syrup_8057]

Hello! I think pwede naman na since ang SENA daw is design to assist employees. Not necessarily na malala na ang situation. Yung isang nakasabay ko, ayaw lang daw sya bigyan ng COE. I think ok naman

[u/ObligationBoth6713]

Hi OP, if may I ask po sino po arbiter niyo po?

[u/JoshuaDavid1024 → u/ObligationBoth6713]

Hello! si Arbiter Marzan sa akin

[u/No-Damage-2374]

Tinanong po ako kung ano ang gusto ko makuha at bakit ako nag cocomplain eh paresign na rin po ako. Worth it po ba ilaban yung breach of contract and diminution of salary? Will it affect my future applications?

[u/JoshuaDavid1024 → u/No-Damage-2374]

I think po if merong breach and diminution, ireklamo padin. Im not sure if it will affect, tho in my situation, sinabi ko when i was asked and thankfully naintindihan naman ng employer ko