In Short
- Start with a request for assistance at a DOLE office under its Single Entry Approach (SEnA). For up to 30 days, a DOLE officer helps you and your employer try to settle.
- If you do not settle, you are sent to the NLRC (for example, if you were fired unfairly) or the DOLE regional office (for example, minimum wage problems).
- Claims for unpaid money must be filed within 3 years. Cases for being fired unfairly (illegal dismissal) within 4 years.
- The Public Attorney's Office gives free help to workers who qualify.
Step 1: SEnA, the 30-Day Settlement Talks
Most work disputes must first try to settle with DOLE's help. Under Republic Act No. 10396 (RA 10396), labor and employment issues go through mandatory conciliation-mediation (required settlement talks with a neutral officer) first. DOLE does this through the Single Entry Approach (SEnA), which it describes as a fast, fair, low-cost and easy way to settle disputes.
- File a Request for Assistance (RFA) at the Single Entry Assistance Desk (SEAD) of the DOLE regional, provincial or field office where the employer mainly does business. Some DOLE offices accept online filing, but you must still appear for the conferences.
- A SEnA officer calls you and the employer to meetings (conferences).
- The process lasts up to 30 days. If you settle, the agreement is written down and the request is closed.
- If you do not settle, the officer issues a referral, sending your case to the proper office.
SEnA covers dismissal or suspension, money claims of any amount, unfair labor practice (acts against workers' right to organize, such as union-busting), closures and retrenchment (job cuts), OFW cases, and some workplace safety concerns.
Step 2: Where the Case Goes Next
| Kind of Case | Where It Goes |
|---|---|
| Illegal dismissal (being fired without a valid reason or proper process), with or without money claims | National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), before a Labor Arbiter (the NLRC's hearing officer) |
| Unfair labor practice, damages arising from your work with the employer | NLRC |
| Money claims over ₱5,000, or any claim together with a request to get your job back (reinstatement) | NLRC |
| Small money claims (₱5,000 or less) with no request to get your job back | DOLE regional office |
| Breaking labor standards (the basic rules on pay and conditions), such as minimum wage, holiday pay, 13th month pay or safety, found during inspection | DOLE regional office |
| Disputes under a Collective Bargaining Agreement (union contract) or company policy | The company's grievance process, and voluntary arbitration (a neutral person both sides choose to decide) |
At the NLRC, the Labor Arbiter holds required meetings, asks both sides for position papers (written statements of their side), and decides. Decisions can be appealed to the NLRC Commission.
Deadlines to File
- Money claims (unpaid wages, overtime, holiday pay, 13th month pay, final pay): within three years from when the money was due, under Article 306 of the Labor Code (formerly Article 291).
- Illegal dismissal: within four years from the dismissal, as the Supreme Court has applied Article 1146 of the Civil Code.
- Unfair labor practice: within one year from the act, under Article 305 (formerly Article 290).
These time limits are called prescriptive periods. Do not wait until the last months. Evidence and witnesses are easier to find early.
What to Bring
You do not need complete papers to file a SEnA request, but the more you have, the better:
- your ID, and the employer's exact name and address;
- proof you worked there: ID, contract, payslips, Certificate of Employment, work schedules, chat messages with supervisors;
- if you were fired: the notice of termination, notices asking you to explain, or messages telling you not to report;
- for money claims: your computation of what is owed, and payslips or bank records; and
- names of co-workers who can confirm your story.
Free Help
- DOLE: SEAD officers explain the process and help you fill in the request.
- Public Attorney's Office (PAO): a free lawyer for workers who pass its indigency test (a check that you cannot afford a lawyer), including before the NLRC.
- The NLRC and DOLE offices have public assistance desks.
An illegal dismissal case is a full legal case. If it does not settle at SEnA, get a lawyer or the PAO's help.
Before Filing at DOLE
Your ticks stay on this device only.
Common Questions
What Is SEnA?
The Single Entry Approach is DOLE's 30-day settlement talks (conciliation-mediation), required before most labor cases. You file a request for assistance at a DOLE office, and a SEnA officer tries to help you and the employer settle.
How Long Do I Have to File a Complaint for Unpaid Wages?
Three years from when the money was due, under Article 306 of the Labor Code.
How Long Do I Have to File an Illegal Dismissal Case?
Four years from the dismissal. File as early as you can.
Do I Need a Lawyer for SEnA?
No. SEnA is meant to be simple. For a case before the NLRC, a lawyer or the Public Attorney's Office can help.
Not legal advice. This is general information. For advice on your own situation, consult a lawyer. If you cannot afford one, the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) or an IBP legal aid office may help for free.
Government fees, rules and requirements change, so always check with the office concerned before you go. Last reviewed October 8, 2026.