Hotline 1349: 127k worker issues addressed

MANILA, Jan. 3 – With its 24/7 hotline service, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) was able to address close to 127,000 labor and employment-related concerns.

The issues were brought forward by 91,466 workers recorded by assistance officers for the first 15 months since it was launched.

Hotline 1349 was established to assist DOLE’s publics in accessing government services and help enforce labor laws and standards.

The top concerns reported as of December are related to general labor standards, with 96,766 queries referring mostly to payment and computation of holiday, 13th month, separation, and termination pays.

This was followed by queries concerning labor relations (14,052), specifically on adjudication, grievance settlement, and arbitration procedures.

On the other hand, queries on employment facilitation, both local and overseas; and clarifications on obtaining permits, guidelines of the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES), and other related matters totaled to 7,358.

Queries on the availment of social contributions, exit clearance for OFWs, and availing of various reintegration programs totaled to 4,433.

Hotline 1349 was launched on Sept. 7, 2016, as DOLE’s response to the directive of President Duterte to all government agencies to put up a 24/7 hotline system to communicate its services and program to their publics

Presently, it has 10 seats and is equipped with PLDT Cosmocall’s Managed Contact Center System. It operates on three shifts per day – 6:00 A.M. to 2:00 PM; 2:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M., and 10:00 PM to 6:00 A.M.

To talk to any of DOLE’s Hotline assistance officers, just dial 1349. (DOLE/TLaderas)