DOLE 3 launches 24/7 Hotline

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga –The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office No. 3 will officially launch today its 24/7 DOLE Central Luzon (CL) Hotline Call/SMS Services.

The DOLE Regional Office No. 3’s two 24/7 regional hotline numbers to be officially activated today are 0925-8150214 (mobile) and (045) 455-1619 (landline).

Jerry Borja, DOLE Region 3 Information Officer, said the launching comes a day before Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III will lead the DOLE Central Office’s launching of its DOLE 24/7 Hotline Call Services at the national level.

DOLE Regional Director Atty. Ana Dione will lead the launching of the regional hotline numbers in a press conference with local media at the Royce Hotel Casino, Clark Freeport Zone.

“We have been instructed by our Labor Secretary, through the issuance of Administrative Order No. 409, series of 2016, for the regional offices to set up their respective 24/7 DOLE Hotline Call Services to ensure the timely delivery of government services to its various clients and program partners,” Dione said.

Dione explained that the hotline aims to provide immediate response to all workers in crisis and emergency situation, provide them relief from unsafe, unhealthy, and unjust conditions of work.

Aside from this, the hotline will also cater to victims of illegal recruitment and trafficking-in-person and separated from work claiming unpaid wages and benefits.

Workers engaged in temporary or atypical work arrangements not in accordance with existing labor laws and regulations may also seek assistance from the hotline services.

For local and overseas workers claiming social and health insurance benefits, they may call the hotline services for the speedy facilitation in the payments of their claims.

Workers may also inquire about applicable wages and wage-related benefits, overtime and holiday pays, and similar concerns as well as various cases filed in DOLE offices and attached agencies.

To ensure the hotline’s effectiveness, Dione said that the regional office has already established a Hotline Team and System to man the regional 24/7 DOLE CL Hotline Call Services.

“We’ve already submitted our implementation plan which includes the purpose, protocol, recording and tracking system, list of personnel, name of person-in-charge, and phone numbers dedicated to the hotline call services, in response to the Administrative Order the Secretary has concerned to us,” Dione said.

The hotline system is a work in progress. Continuing training program for hotline personnel and system improvement shall be based on feedback that we will receive, she added.