Sen. Bong Go has reintroduced a bill that shall create an additional division of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) to be established in Davao City.
Senate Bill No. 1187 aims to amend the relevant provisions of the Labor Code of the Philippines.
It also aims to increase the number of commissioners from 23 to 26 as each NLRC division is composed of three members.
"With a growing number of local and overseas workers, the NLRC is now tasked with more significant responsibility," Go noted.
"Thus, creating an additional division of the NLRC will be beneficial for the proper administration and implementation of the labor laws and rules," he stressed.
NLRC is a quasi-judicial body attached to the Department of Labor and Employment tasked with promoting and maintaining industrial peace by resolving labor and management disputes involving workers.
Go pointed out that the increase in the number of local and overseas workers under the NLRC's jurisdiction calls for the corresponding expansion of the body to minimize case backlogs and address labor disputes in a more timely manner.
"In 2021, the Commission posted an overall disposition output of 32,433 cases through compulsory arbitration, consisting of 24,262 original cases from the Regional Arbitration Branches and 8,171 appealed cases from the Commission Proper," the senator noted.
"Out of 27,037 original cases received for the current year, 24,262 or 90% are disposed of by the Regional Arbitration Branches while the Commission Proper disposes of 8,171 or 102% from the 8,031 appealed cases received for the current year," he continued.
