SEnA helps guards recover PHP 160,000

The Department of Labor and Employment in Western Visayas, through its Single Entry Approach, facilitated the payment of PHP 160,000 in money claims to four security guards after 27 days of negotiations.

Each worker received PHP 40,000 for his family under the settlement.

The workers sought DOLE’s assistance by filing a Request for Assistance over the alleged nonpayment of minimum wage, 13th month pay, overtime pay, and night shift differential after working for nearly a year with the agency.

Through a series of conciliation-mediation conferences, the requesting and responding parties reached a win-win solution with the help of the assigned Single Entry Assistance Desk Officer.

On May 11, 2026, the parties reached an amicable settlement agreement, allowing the responding party to release PHP 40,000 to each worker as full and final settlement of the RFA.

DOLE-6 Regional Director Atty. Sixto T. Rodriguez Jr. highlighted the role of SEnA in promoting industrial peace and providing immediate assistance to workers and employers.

“SEnA continues to serve as a vital process for workers and employers to resolve labor issues through constructive dialogue and mutual understanding. By engaging in open communication and friendly productive negotiation, the program helps both parties arrive at practical and equitable solutions without resorting to lengthy and expensive litigation,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez also commended the agency for sending its operations officers from Quezon City in Metro Manila to address the workers’ concerns.

SEnA is DOLE’s conciliation-mediation mechanism that provides a speedy, impartial, inexpensive, and accessible way to resolve labor disputes before they become formal cases.

With the successful settlement agreement, both parties parted ways satisfied and maintained a cordial relationship.

“Mag move-on na tayo,” the management representative said, encouraging the workers to apply to a bigger agency or invest in livelihood projects using the money claims they received.