DOLE Hotline 1349 responds to nearly 100-K labor queries

Almost 100,000 labor-related queries have been received by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Hotline 1349 since it began operating in September last year. (PNA photo)

MANILA—Almost 100,000 labor-related queries have been received by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Hotline 1349 since it began operating in September last year.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the hotline has received 99,063 calls that mostly concerned the protection and welfare of workers, and those pertaining to terms and conditions of their employment.

“Majority of the queries dwelt on social protection and welfare concerns, totaling 72,703 calls, the highest number of which were related to computations of night shift differentials with 23,627 calls, and 13th-month pay with 12,828 calls,” Bello said in a statement.

On queries on labor standards, the hotline has responded to 13,612 calls, 6,506 of which were inquiries on the registration of establishments and 4,274 on the certificate of the establishments’ compliance with labor laws.

It likewise answered 5,623 calls on labor relations concerns, 3,318 of which were on DOLE’s Single Entry Approach (SEnA) mechanism; 1,738 on grievance settlement/voluntary arbitration; and 567 on non-remittances of government contributions.

As for employment queries, the hotline has responded to 7,125 calls which include queries on employment facilitation with 4,680 calls; employment application with 1,878 calls; and skills enhancement program with 567 calls.

The DOLE Hotline was launched in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to communicate to Filipinos the department’s services and programs that address labor and employment concerns.

“On the average, the DOLE Call Center received 7,123 calls and 12,383 queries per month and most of these calls were immediately provided with corresponding advice by our DOLE Hotline action officers,” Bello said.