Butuan City- Regional Conciliation and Mediation Branch (RCMB) Caraga conducted an orientation webinar on the programs and services of the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) for medium and large companies in Surigao del Norte.

The webinar was held in partnership with DOLE Surigao del Norte Provincial Office (DOLE-SDNPO), Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB)-Caraga, Employees Compensation Commission (ECC)-Regional Extension Unit (REU)- Caraga, Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC).

“Work relations enhancement mechanisms, such as Labor-Management Cooperation, may serve as entry points for the programs and services of the Department of Labor and Employment and its attached agencies,” RCMB Director Ma. Theresa M. Francisco  said in her opening remarks.

Francisco explained further that through LMC, other programs of the DOLE such as labor standards compliance, occupational safety and health, and productivity may be introduced in the companies to enhance the workplace.

RCMB Caraga focused on the importance of institutionalizing Labor-Management Cooperation to promote partnership between labor and management at the workplace. 

The Branch also highlighted the role of the Grievance Machinery in resolving disputes at the plant level.

ECC-REU-Caraga Administrative Officer Genevieve Elorde-Uson discussed Board Resolution No. 21-04-14 of ECC issued on 6 April 2021 which recently added the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the list of occupational and work-related diseases.

OSHC Caraga Engineer II Christian Lee N. Jaguit, in his discussion on the programs of Occupational Safety and Health,  encouraged participants to join free trainings conducted by OSHC to increase the number of OSH advocates to help achieve a workplace free from accidents and illnesses.

RTWPB-Caraga introduced the productivity toolbox which features programs to improve the capability of enterprises. 

“The productivity toolbox includes training and technical assistance from the RTWPB for the development and growth of enterprises,” RTWPB-Caraga Board Secretary VI Earl D. Dela Victoria said. 

DOLE-SDNPO touched on the process of organizing and registering a labor organization with the DOLE.

The 10 dimensions of the Family Welfare Program were also presented and discussed to encourage the participants to promote family welfare programs for the benefit of the workers in their companies. 

The webinar was held on 6 May 2021 and was attended by 33 participants from 21 establishments. 

END/ RONABETH CABAÑAS edited by Gillian Pearl L. Guerrero