AN ACT STRENGTHENING CONCILIATION-MEDIATION AS A VOLUNTARY MODE OF DISPUTE SETTLEMENT FOR ALL LABOR CASES

Case Overview and Summary

Republic Act No. 10396

Strengthening Conciliation-Mediation as a Voluntary Mode of Dispute Settlement for All Labor Cases

- Amends Article 228 of the Labor Code of the Philippines (Presidential Decree No. 442)
- Mandates conciliation-mediation for all labor and employment issues, except those covered by Title VII-A, Book V of the Labor Code or as exempted by the Secretary of Labor and Employment (Section 1(a))
- The labor arbiter or appropriate DOLE agency/office shall only entertain cases endorsed or referred by the duly authorized officer after conciliation-mediation (Section 1(a))
- Either party may pre-terminate the conciliation-mediation proceedings and request referral or endorsement to the appropriate DOLE agency/office with jurisdiction over the dispute (Section 1(b))
- If both parties agree, they may refer unresolved issues to voluntary arbitration (Section 1(b))
- The Secretary of Labor and Employment shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act (Section 2)
- Repeals, amends, or modifies other laws, presidential issuances, rules, and regulations inconsistent with this Act (Section 3)
- Took effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation (Section 4)