Body/Agency Manda te Nature of Proceedings Juri sdic tion Composit ion

NATIONAL To adjudicate labor and Non-litigious (means that Under Ar ti cl e 217 of the Labor Code, Labor Arbi ters The Commi ssion Proper of the NLRC i s tri parti te in
management disputes Subject to the have juri sdi cti on over the following cases: representati on. Under R.A. No. 9347 , the Commissi on
LABOR
involving both local and requirements of due Proper has ei ght (8) Di vi si ons, each i s composed of three
RELATIONS overseas workers throu gh process, the 1. Unfai r l abor practi ce (ULP ) cases; (3 ) members w i th the Presi ding Commi ssioner
COMMISSION compulsor y arbitra tion and technicalities of la w and 2. Termi nati on disputes (or illegal di smi ssal cases); representing the government sector and the other tw o
alternative modes of procedure in the regular 3. I f accompanied wi th a clai m for reinstatement, members representi ng the w orkers’ and the employers’
dispute resolution. courts do no t apply in those cases that w orkers may file invol vi ng w ages, sectors .
the labor arbitration rates of pay, hours of work and other terms and
proceeding ) condi ti ons of employment; Of the ei ght (8 ) Di vi si ons, the Fi rst, Second , Thi rd, Fourth ,
4. Cl ai ms for actual , moral , exempl ary and other Fi fth and Si xth Di visi ons handl e cases coming from the
Civil case forms of damages ari si ng from empl oyer -empl oyee Nati onal Capi tal Region and other parts of Luzon, and
rel ati ons; the Seventh and Ei ght Di vi sions, cases from the Vi sayas
Criminal case (criminal aspect of 5. Cases ari si ng f rom any vi olati on of Ar ti cl e 264 of and Mindanao, respecti vel y.
Unfair Labor Practices) the Labor Code, i ncludi ng questions i nvol ving the
legali ty of strikes and lockouts; The Chai rman, aided by the Executi ve Cl erk of the
6. Except cl aims for empl oyees compensati on not Commi ssion, has excl usive admi nistrati ve supervi sion
i ncluded in the next succeedi ng paragraph, soci al over the NLR C, i ts regi onal arbi trati on branches and all
securi ty, M edi care and materni ty benefi ts, all other i ts personnel , i ncl uding the Labor Arbi ters.
cl aims ari si ng from empl oyer -employee relations,
i ncludi ng those of persons i n domesti c or household The Commissi on Proper si ts en banc onl y for purposes of
servi ce, invol vi ng an amount exceeding Fi ve promul gati ng rul es and regul ati ons governi ng the
Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00 ), w hether or not heari ng and disposi ti on of cases, and formulati ng
accompani ed w i th a cl aim for rei nstatement; poli cies affecti ng i ts admini strati on and operati ons.
7. Wage di storti on di sputes i n unorgani zed
establishments not vol untarily settl ed by the parti es The Commi ssion Proper si tti ng en banc may, on
pursuant to Republi c Act No. 6627; temporary or emergency basi s, all ow cases w ithi n the
8. Enforcement of compromi se agreements w hen juri sdi cti on of any Di vi sion to be transferred to and be
there i s non -compliance by any of the parti es heard and deci ded by any other Di vi sion w hi ch docket
pursuant to Ar ti cle 227 of the Labor Code, as may allow addi ti onal w orkl oad and such transfer w ill not
amended; expose li ti gants to unnecessary addi ti onal expense.
9. M oney cl aims ari sing out of empl oyer -empl oyee
rel ati onship or by vi rtue of any l aw or contract, The Commi ssion Proper through i ts Di vi sions have
i nvolvi ng Filipi no w orkers for overseas empl oyment, excl usi ve appellate juri sdicti on over all cases deci ded by
i ncludi ng clai ms for actual , moral , exemplary and Labor Arbi ters at the Regional /Sub -Regi onal Arbi trati on
other forms of damages as provi ded by Secti on 10 of Branches.
R.A. No . 8042 , as amended by R.A. No. 10022 ;
10.Contes ted cases under the excepti on clause of The Fi rst, Second, Thi rd, Fourth, Fi fth, and Si xth
Ar ti cl e 128(b) of the Labor Code, as amended by Di vi si ons have thei r respecti ve offi ces i n the Nati onal
R.A. 7730 ; and Capi tal Region, w hile the Seventh and Ei ghth Di vi sions i n
11. Other cases as may be provi ded by law . the ci ti es of Cebu and Cag ayan de Oro, respecti vely.

The Chai rman i s the Presiding Commi ssi oner of the Fi rst
Di vi si on.
The NLRC has juri sdict ion over the f ollowing matte rs:

1.) Appellate juri sdi cti on over all cases deci ded by
the labor arbi ter
2.) Excl usi ve appellate juri sdi cti on over all cases
deci ded by the regi onal di rectors or heari ng offi cers
 i nvol ving the recovery of w ages and other monetary
cl aims and benefi ts ari si ng from employer -employee
rel ati onships w here the total money clai m i s
Php5,000 .00 or l ess
3.) Ori gi nal excl usi ve juri sdi cti on as compul sory
arbi trati on body over labor di sputes certi fied to i t by
the DOLE secretary
4.) Ori gi nal excl usi ve j uri sdi cti on to i ssue labor
i njuncti ons and exerci se contempt pow ers under Ar t.
218 (e) of the Labor Code (illegal acts commi tted
duri ng a labor di spute)
5.) Ori gi nal excl usi ve juri sdi cti on over contempt
cases commi tted agai nst i t or any of i ts members
unde r Ar t. 21 8 (d ) of the Labor Code (acts of
contempt duri ng proceedings )
6.) E xcl usi ve juri sdi cti on over cases invol vi ng peti ti on
for reli ef from judgment from a deci si on/order from a
labor di spute i nvol ving fraud, acci dent, mi stake or
excusabl e negligence

The NLRC si ts en banc only to promul gate rules rules

and regulati on on the heari ng and disposi ti on of
cases before any of i ts deci si ons and regi onal
branches and formulating poli cies affecti ng i ts
admi ni strati on. I n all other cases, cases before the
NLRC are taken up in di vision.

The NLRC i s on the same level as the CA.

BUREAU OF Serves as Nati onal registry To research To research “Bureau” means the Bureau of Labor Relati ons and/or the
of uni ons and CBAs Labor Rel ati ons Di vi sions i n the regional offices
LABOR
established under Presi denti al Decree No. 1, i n the
RELATIONS Formul ate regulatory and Department of Labor.
devel opmental poli cies,
standards, gui delines and
programs promoti ng the
ri ght to organi ze, incl uding
collecti ve bargai ni ng and
improvement of the i ncome
of w orkers and thei r
organi zati ons;

Lead agency i n w orkers and

empl oyers educati on;

Adjudi cate inter - and i ntra -

uni on disputes;

Promote biparti sm and

tri parti sm; and
 Formul ati on and
implementati on of
programs that strength en
trade uni oni sm to achi eve
i ndustri al peace.

NATIONAL Shall formul ate poli cies, The nature of the Juri sdic tion of Voluntary Arbitrators or Panel of To research
CONCILIATION devel op pl ans and procedure w ill depend Voluntary Arbit rato rs (Ar t. 261-26 2, Labor Code )
programs and set standar ds upon the structure of the Exclusive and original jurisdiction to hear and decide
AND and procedures relati ve to company and on the all grievances:
MEDIATION the promoti on of needs and desi res of the
BOARD conciliati on and mediation parti es Ari si ng from the implementati on or i nterpretati on of
(created un der of l abor di sputes through the collecti ve bargai ning agreements;
Executive Order the preventi ve medi ati on, Nature of proceedings promote Ari si ng from the interpretati on or enforcement of
No. 126 as conciliati on and vol untary alternative modes of dispute company personnel poli cies;
amended by EO arbi trati on; resolution Wage di storti on i ssues ari sing from the applicati on of
251, any w age orders i n organized establi shme nts (Par. 4,
reorganizing the facili tati on of labor - Art. 124, RA 6727 );
DOLe) management cooperation “Where the application o f an y prescribed
through joi nt mechani sms wa ge increase by virtue of a law or Wage Order
for i nformati on shari ng, issued by any Regional Board results in distortions or
effecti ve communi cation wa ge structure within an establishment, the
and consul tati on and employer and the union sha ll negotiate to correct
group-probl em solvi ng. the distor tions. Any dis pute arising fro m wage
distor tion shall be resolved through the grievance
procedure under their collective bargaining
agreement and, if it remains unresolved, through
voluntary arbitra tion. Unless other wise a greed by the
parties in writing, such dispute shall be decided by
the voluntary arbitra tors wi thin ten (10 ) calendar
days fro m the time said dispute was re ferred to
voluntary arbitration.”
Unresol ved gri evances ari si ng from the i nterpretati on
and i mplemen tati on of the producti vi ty i ncenti ve
programs under RA 6971.
Sec. 9 , R A 6971
Sec. 9. Disputes and Grievances – Whenever
disputes, grievances, or other matters arise fro m the
interpretation or implementation o f the productivity
incentive progra m, the labor-management
committee shall meet to resolve the dispute, and
ma y seek the assistance of the National Conciliation
and Mediation Board o f the Departmen t o f Labor
and Employment for such purpose. Any dispute which
remains unresolved within twen ty (20 ) da ys from the
time o f its submission to the labor -management
committee shall be submitted for voluntar y
arbitration in line with the pertinent provisions of the
Labor Code as amended.
 The Productivity incentives program shall include the
name (s ) i f the voluntary arbitra tor or panel of
voluntary arbi trato rs previously chosen and agreed
upon by the labor -management commi ttee.
Concurrent Ju risdiction
Any other l abor di spute upon agreement of the
party may be submi tted to a voluntary arbi trator or
panel of vol untary arbi trators.
Before or at any stage of the compulsory arbi trati on
process, the parti es may opt to submi t to their
di spute to vol untary arbi trati on.
The NLRC and i ts Regi onal Branches as w ell as the
Regi onal Di rectors of the DOLE are prohibi ted from
entertai ni ng disputes, grievances or matters under
the excl usi ve and ori ginal juri sdi cti on of the vol untary
arbi trator or panel of vol untary arbi trators . They shall
immediatel y di spose and refer the same to the
appropri ate gri evance machi ne ry or voluntary
arbi trati on provi ded in the collecti ve bargai ni ng
agreement.

Powers of the Voluntary Arbitrators or Panel of

Voluntary Arbit rato rs (Sec. 4, Rule XI, Book V)
To hol d hearings;
To recei ve evidence;
To take w hatever acti on is necessary to resol ve the
i ssue/s subject of the di spute;
To conciliate or mediate to aid the parties in
reaching a voluntary settl ement of the di spute;
To i ssue a w ri t of execution to enforce final deci si ons,
orders, resol uti ons or aw ards.

TRIPARTITE Provi des advi sory assi stance Ad vi sory i n nature Specific Functio ns of the S ecretariat The TV AAC i s composed of a Council Proper and
to the Board on the The Secretari at shall have the foll ow ing functi ons a Secretariat .
voluntary
formulati on of poli cies, and responsibili ties: The Council Proper i s a triparti te body composed of the
arbitration programs and standar d I ssues noti ces, announcements and other rel ated NCM B Executi ve Di rector as Chai rman, one member from
council manual s of procedures materi als for the Council ; prepares the Agenda of the government, tw o members representi ng labor
pertai ning to gri evance regul ar and speci al meetings i n consul tati on wi th the and tw o members representi ng management. The
handli ng and vol untary Chai rman; members are all appointed by the President to serve a
arbi trati on; recommends to Records the full minutes of all meeti ngs, sessi ons of term of three (3 ) years, w i thout compensati on.
the Board the i ssuance of the Council , records all proposal s and resolutions, The Secretariat of the Council i s headed by the NCM B
gui deli nes and rules in the i ncludi ng consensus/ votes taken on all matters Deputy Executi ve Di rector and staffed by the personnel
promoti on and presented to the Council for acti on; of the Vol untary Arbi trati on Di vi si on.
admi ni strati on of the Mai ntai ns complete and up -to-da te record o f The head of the Secretari at and i ts staff provi de
voluntary arbi trati on Council acti vi ties and of the attendance of members techni cal and adm ini strati ve support to the Council , in
program; recommends the at Council meeti ngs and other offi ci al functi ons; addi ti on to thei r regul ar functi ons.
conduct of researches and Prepares techni cal papers, offi ci al communi cati ons,
studi es on vol untary proposed di recti ves and other documents rel ati ve to
Council’s programs and acti vi ti es;
 arbi trati on i n ai d of policy Performs other functi ons as may be authori zed by the
formulati on. Council .
Adop ts and promul gates
the Council ’s internal rules
and regul ati ons.
Devel ops and implements
i ts plans and programs.

VOLUNTARY Voluntary Arbi tra tor” — Non-li ti gi ous SECTI ON 1. Excl usi ve and Ori gi nal Juri sdi cti on. — The To research
Ar bi trator for short, refers to voluntary arbi trator or panel of vol untary arbi trator s
ARBITRATORS
any person w ho has been named in the collecti ve bargai ni ng agreement or
accredi ted by the Board as mutually appoi nted by the parties i n case none has
such, or any person named been i n the CBA, shall have exclusi ve and ori gi nal
or desi gnated in the juri sdi cti on over the followi ng cases:
collecti ve bargai ning 1 ) Al l unresol ved grievances ari si ng from the
agreement by the parti es as i nterpretati on or implementati on of the collecti ve
thei r vol untary arbi trator, or bargai ni ng agreement after exhausti on of the
one chosen wi th the gri evance procedure.
assi stance of the 2 ) Al l unresol ved gri evance ari sing from the
Department of Labor and implementati on or enforcement of the gri evance
Empl oyment, pursuant to a procedure.
sel ecti on procedure agreed For thi s purpose, all gri evances w hi ch are not settled
upon i n the CBA. or resol ved w ithi n seven (7 ) cal endar day from the
date of the submissi on for resol uti on to the last step
of the gri evance machi nery shall automati call y be
referred to vol untary arbi trati on prescri bed i n the
collecti ve bargai ning agreement.

Excl usi ve and ori gi nal juri sdi cti on:

a )all unresol ved w age distorti on cases as a resul t of
the appli cati on of w age order i ssued by any
Regi onal Tri parti te Wages and Producti vi ty Boar ds to
be deci ded, unl ess otherwise agreed by the parti es
i n w ri ti ng, w i thin ten (10 ) cal endar days from the ti me
said dispute w as referred to vol untary arbi trati on and

b ) all di sputes, grievances or other matters ari si ng

from the i nterpretati on and i mple mentati on of
producti vi ty i ncenti ves program w hi ch remai ns
unresol ved wi thi n tw enty (20 ) cal endar days from the
ti me of the submi ssion to l abor -management
commi ttee. Cases falling w ithi n the ori ginal and
excl usi ve juri sdi cti on of voluntary arbi trators but fil ed
ei ther w i th the Nati onal Labor Relati ons Commi ssi on
and i ts Regi onal Branches, or the Regi onal Di rectors
of the Department of Labor and Empl oyment or wi th
the Board and i ts branches, shall be deci ded by the
voluntary arbi trator or panel of vol untary arbi trator s
chosen by the parti es, upon referral of sai d cases
 pursuant to paragraph 2, Arti cl e 261 of the Labor
Code, as amended by R A 6715 .
NATIONAL Serves as the mai n The program i nvol ves the To moni tor the full impl ementati on and compliance TIPC Monitoring Body
consul tati ve and advi sory promoti on of tri parti te by concerned sectors w i th provi si ons of all triparti te “Consti tuti ng the Nati onal Triparti te I ndustrial Peace
TRIPARTITE
mechani sm l odged w i th the i ndustri al peace i nstruments, incl udi ng internati onal c onventi ons, Council as the High Level Tri parti te M oni tori ng Body on
INDUSTRIAL Department of Labor and council’s formati on, as codes of conduct, and soci al accords; the Appli cati on of I nternati onal Labor Standards. i n
PEACE Empl oyment – Bureau of w ell as the i ndustry To parti ci pate i n nati onal , regi onal or i ndustry - Parti cul ar I LO Conventi on on Freedom of Associ ati on and
COUNCIL Labor Relati ons tri parti te council s, i n the speci fi c tri parti te conferences w hi ch the President or Protecti on of the Ri ght to Orga ni ze (No.87 )”
nati onal , regi onal , the Secretary of Labor and Empl oyment may call The Government of the Republi c of the Philippi nes (GRP )
A fo rum for tri parti te ci ty/muni ci pal and from ti me to ti me; duri ng the 98th Sessi on of the I nternati onal Labor
advi sement and provi ncial levels. I t al so To revi ew exi sti ng labor, economi c and social Conference i n June 2009 accepted the request for
consul tati on among i ncludes the poli cies and to evaluate l ocal and i nternational I nternati onal Labor Organi zati on Hi gh Level Mission, in
organi zed l abor, empl oyer i nsti tuti onali zati on of devel opments affecti ng them; order for the I LO to obtain a greater understandi ng of
and government i n the soci al dial ogues and To formulate for submi ssi on to the Presi dent or the appli cati on of I LO Conventi on No. 87, i n l aw and i n
formulati on and tri parti te consul tati ons Congress, tri parti te vi ews, recommendati ons and practi ce, and to gather detailed information on issues
implementati on of l abor on poli cies and programs proposal s on l abor, economi c and social concerns and con cerns rai sed by the I LO supervi sory bodi es.
and empl oyment poli cies. affecti ng labor and i ncludi ng the presenta ti on of tri parti te posi ti ons on
management. rel evant bills pendi ng i n Congress;
To advi se the Secretary of Labor and Empl oyment i n
Responsible for processing the formul ati on or implementati on of poli cies and
major i ssuances affecting legi slati on affecti ng labor and empl oyment;
labor, empl oyment and To serve as a communi cati on channel and a
other rel ated concerns, as mechani sm for undertaking joi n programs among
w ell as a cleari nghouse for government, w orkers, employers and thei r
the recommendati on and organi zati ons tow ard enhanci ng l abor -management
rati fi cati on or denunciation rel ati ons; and
of I nternati onal Labour To adopt i ts ow n program of acti vi ti es and rules,
Organi zati on Conventi ons. consi stent w i th development objecti ves.