TAYABAS CITY, Quezon — A labor dispute in Tayabas City has ended with a small but meaningful victory for workers, as the Department of Labor and Employment–Quezon Provincial Office (DOLE-QPO) facilitated the recovery of ₱139,797 in unpaid wages and benefits for four employees. Through DOLE’s Single Entry Approach (SEnA), the workers were able to secure compensation from their agency, which is based in Santa Rosa City, Laguna, following complaints of underpayment, non-release of their 13th month pay, and the withholding of their final pay.

SEnA, designed as a speedy and non-litigious mechanism, once again proved its value in resolving labor conflicts without dragging workers into long and costly legal battles. In this case, the responding party complied with the settlement, allowing the affected employees to finally receive what was rightfully theirs. For many workers living paycheck to paycheck, delays in wages are not mere inconveniences—they are disruptions that affect daily survival, family stability, and personal dignity.

One of the workers captured the deeper significance of the outcome, emphasizing that the struggle was not only about money but about justice and dignity. That statement resonates beyond Tayabas. It reflects a broader reality faced by many Filipino workers who hesitate to file complaints out of fear, lack of knowledge, or the belief that the system will not work in their favor. When institutions like DOLE act decisively and fairly, they help rebuild trust in government mechanisms meant to protect labor rights.

Still, this case also raises uncomfortable questions. If four workers had to seek government intervention just to receive basic, legally mandated compensation, how many others remain silent and unpaid? While SEnA offers a faster path to justice, it also highlights the persistent problem of non-compliance among some employers and agencies. As this issue closes for the Tayabas workers, it opens a larger conversation for the rest of the country: Should workers have to fight this hard for what the law already guarantees them? (Larawan mula sa: Quezon Province News / Facebook)