Philippines - National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) Temporarily Suspends Work

The NLRC issued NLRC COVID-19 Advisory No. 5 dated March 17, 2020 [1]which provides that during the
effectivity of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) over Luzon from (March 17, 2020 to 12 midnight of
April 13, 2020) --
 
1. Work at the Commission proper and at all units and Offices of the Labor Arbiters is suspended. Work from
home arrangements shall be implemented for the Commissioners, Labor Arbiters, and their assisting lawyers. 

2. The filing of Motions for Reconsideration, Petitions for Extraordinary Remedies, and appeals is suspended
starting March 16, 2020 until the NLRC resumes regular operations. 

3. For walk-in settlements, parties are advised to submit their notarized Compromise Agreement and/or
Quitclaim, Release and Waiver when the Offices of the Labor Arbiters resume regular operations. 

4. With respect to conferences/hearings scheduled during the ECQ, the Advisory states that: 

a. All Single Entry Approach (SEnA) conferences conciliation and mediation conferences shall be terminated.
The referral for compulsory arbitration or to other offices that have jurisdiction over the issues raised in the
Request for Assistance will be issued by the SEnA Conciliator-Mediator when the NLRC resumes office.

b. All mandatory conciliation and mediation conferences are terminated. The parties are mandated to file their
respective position papers within 15 calendar days from the resumption of regular operations. As an
alternative, both parties may file a joint motion for the Labor Arbiter to conduct mandatory conciliation and
mediation conference. 

c. All other hearings are reset one month from the date of the scheduled conference.  

Supreme Court suspends Judiciary work, hearings nationwide amid the COVID-19 pandemic

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 16) - The Supreme Court suspended Judiciary work as well as hearings
throughout the country during the month-long travel restriction amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision was made after Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta met today with the Supreme Court task force, the
team that addresses judiciary concerns on the COVID-19.

Peralta issued Administrative Circular 31-2020 which requires all courts nationwide to substantially reduce
operations. This is effective beginning March 16 until April 15.

Work in all courts, court offices, divisions, sections, and units, including in the Supreme Court are suspended,
except in courts and court offices concerned with the resolution of urgent matters and cases, the payments of
salaries in the Judiciary, the release of the 2019 Bar Examination results, medical services, and security of the
courts.

Meanwhile, all hearings nationwide are also suspended. However, those of urgent matters, such as petitions,
motions, and pleadings in relation to bail and habeas corpus, promulgation of judgements of acquittals, reliefs
for those who may be arrested and detained during this period, and othe related actions that may be filed in
relation to measures imposed at the local or national levels to address the declared health emergency. cannot
be heard in the suspension period.

Filing of petitions and appeals, complaints, motions, pleadings, and other court submission that fall from
March 15 to April 15 is extended for 30 days after April 16.