On November 23, 2015, the Department of Labor and Employment Region XI (DOLE XI) in collaboration with the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) and the National Conciliation Mediation Board conducted the 8th Social Partnership at Work: Labor Relations Summit. This summit was held at the SMX Convention Center with the theme: “Empowering Workers. Sustaining Enterprises”. It was attended by the Secretary of DOLE, Honorable Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, together with the Undersecretary for Labor Relations Cluster, Rebecca C. Chato, the Bureau of Labor Relations Director, Atty. Benjo Santos Benavidez, and the National Wages and Productivity Commission Executive Director, Criselda Sy, and almost 400 social partners from different sectors of the industry.

This summit aimed to promote and recognize compliant establishments across all sectors in the region. It also aimed to widen the range of the government’s convergence program, which promotes and strengthens the labor-management cooperation. The summit strengthens tripartism through the induction of the newly-elected officers of the different Tripartite Industry Peace Councils, particularly in the sectors of the Banana, Construction, and Information Technology-Business Process Management, as well as the Davao City Tripartite Industry Peace Council, and the Federation of Family Welfare Stakeholders.

Thus, the highlight of the summit was the distribution of different recognitions to establishments that have attained compliance and are still continuing their efforts in attaining industrial peace. Among the awardees were 24 establishments that received the LMC Convergence of Program Citation. 5 were given the seal of recognition for their effective Productivity Incentives Schemes. 5 other establishments were given the seal of recognition for service quality. Also, 13 establishments together with their respective labor unions received Certificates of Compliance on Labor Relations (COC-LR); and 11 were awarded for Tripartite Certificate of Compliance with Labor Relations (TCCLS), which is an award given and validated by the Tripartite Council. 10 establishments were presented with Certificates of Accreditation to safety practitioners.  Lastly, the remaining awardees were awarded with basic Certificates of Compliance on General Labor Standards and Occupational Safety and Health Standards.

Other activities during the summit include the launching of the new convergence program of the National Wages Productivity Commission (NWPC) and the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB); the EMA Program stands for Engage, Motivate & Achieve. Lastly, the summit also prepared new learning sessions regarding the new amendments in the Book V and VI of the Labor Code. Department Order No. 40-I-15 was briefly discussed by Usec. Chato; it tackles on the request for certification of SEBA in replacement to the voluntary recognition. On the other hand, Director Benavidez summarized the Department Order No. 147-15 Series of 2015, which tackles the specification standards on just and authorized causes of termination of employment.

KATHLEEN TRIXIA T. LANDIG
GIP Intern