How do I file a DOLE or NLRC complaint against my employer?
Last updated: 2026-07-11 · Educational content; not legal advice.
Short answer
Almost every labor dispute must first go through DOLE's Single Entry Approach (SEnA): you file a Request for Assistance (RFA) at the nearest DOLE Regional/Field Office (or NCMB / NLRC desk), and a SEnA Desk Officer runs a mandatory, free 30-day conciliation-mediation. If it settles, the agreement is binding; if not, you get a referral to the proper forum. Labor-standards issues and smaller money claims are handled at the DOLE Regional Office; illegal dismissal and larger money claims go to the NLRC Labor Arbiter. You do not need a lawyer to start.
Primary sources
Frequently asked
Do I have to try SEnA before going to the NLRC?
Yes, in almost all cases. SEnA conciliation-mediation is a mandatory first step; a dismissed worker generally cannot go straight to the Labor Arbiter without first filing a Request for Assistance and undergoing the 30-day process.
How long does SEnA take?
The conciliation-mediation runs for 30 calendar days. If no settlement is reached, the case is referred to the appropriate office — the DOLE Regional Office or the NLRC, depending on the issue.
DOLE or NLRC — which handles my case?
Labor-standards violations (unpaid wages, benefits) and smaller money claims are handled at the DOLE Regional Office; illegal dismissal and larger money claims are decided by the NLRC Labor Arbiter.
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Boses ng kumakayod — your everyday rights as a Filipino worker on pay and dismissal: when your final/back pay must be released (DOLE Labor Advisory 06-20 — within 30 days of separation), 13th-month pay (PD 851 — 1/12 of your basic salary, on or before December 24), legal vs illegal salary deductions, unpaid wages and overtime, the twin-notice due-process rule before you can be dismissed, just causes vs authorized causes, separation pay, your Certificate of Employment (within 3 days of request), resignation notice, the regional minimum wage set by your RTWPB, and how to file with DOLE (SEnA conciliation first) or the NLRC.