DOLE to reconstitute tripartite council to prevent labor disputes

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is reconstituting the Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (TIPC) to prevent the worsening of labor disputes. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said more workers groups would be represented in the council.

The reconstitution also aims to strengthen cooperation between private companies and the labor sector.

“The agenda seeks the enhancement of tripartite cooperation aimed at ensuring industrial peace which is essential in business and investments growth and the preservation and generation of jobs,” Baldoz said.

At present, the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) under the labor department settles notices of strikes and lockouts before these become actual strikes or lockouts.

NCMB executive director Reynaldo Ubaldo said 199 notices of strikes and lockouts were filed since January this year, 12 percent lower than the 225 cases filed during the same period last year.

The board settled 73 percent or 179 of the cases filed last January.

Ubaldo said employee benefits gained from settlement of deadlocks through collective bargaining agreements has reached P894 million and benefited 5,254 workers.

In the first two weeks of September, the board had docketed 13 new preventive mediation cases.

There were 294 such cases filed since January, 16 percent lower than the 352 cases filed in the same period last year. –Sheila Crisostomo (The Philippine Star)