32 SECURITY GUARDS RECEIVE MONETARY ENTITLEMENTS THRU DOLE’S INSPECTION IN SURSUR

Some 32 security guards detailed in a mining company in Surigao del Sur received their monetary entitlements recently after the security agency deposited a total of Php899,753.86 through the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Caraga. DOLE-Surigao del Sur Provincial Office released the individual check to the affected security guards. The majority of the beneficiaries who had been with the agency when Wage Order No. 16 was approved in Caraga Region on May 1, 2019, received at least Php29,888.10 each. On April 29, 2021, the DOLECaraga Regional Office conducted an inspection to the concerned security agency after receiving complaints from affected workers on underpayment of wages. Said payment was the result of the inspection which covered underpayment of wages, overtime pay, holiday premium pay, and night shift differential.

The security agency was given 10 days upon receipt of the Notice of Results to show proof of corrections of the deficiencies noted by the labor inspector. After which mandatory conferences were also conducted giving the respondent enough time to comply with the noted deficiencies. A compliance order was issued by the DOLECaraga on July 23, 2021, for failure to comply. Consequently, the concerned agency immediately deposited to DOLE-Caraga Cashier the exact amount of P899,753.86, as reflected in the labor inspector’s computation covering differential pay amounting to Php528,330.00; holiday pay of Php10,845.00; premium pay of Php3,780.00; overtime pay of Php330,382.38; and night shift differential of Php26,416.50. Based on the Department Order No. 183-2017 of the Revised Rules on the Administration and Enforcement of Labor Laws Pursuant to Article 128 of the Labor Code, As Renumbered, the visitorial power of the Secretary of the Labor and Employment or his/her duly authorized representatives could be implemented through the following: (1) Routine Inspection; (2) Complaint Inspection; and (3) Occupational Safety and Health Standards Investigation (OSHI). In this particular case, security guards sent their complaints to DOLE SDS Facebook Page requesting assistance from DOLE for the correction of their daily wage to comply with the Caraga Daily Minimum Wage rate of Php320.00. Aside from inspection, DOLE also assisted the workers’ complaints through the Single Entry Approach (SENA) which can be accessed through http://sena.dole.gov.ph. (DOLE SDS Provincial Office/ PIA-Surigao del Sur)