Book III — Conditions of Employment
Article 129Recovery of wages, simple money claims and other benefits.
ELI5— what this means for you
For simple money claims of ₱5,000 or less (without reinstatement), you can file directly with the DOLE Regional Director — not the NLRC. The claim must be decided within 30 days. This is the faster, smaller-claims route.
Key point
Money claim under ₱5,000? Go to the DOLE Regional Director, not the NLRC. Faster and simpler.
Official text — PD 442
Recovery of wages, simple money claims and other benefits.
Upon complaint of any interested party, the Regional Director of the Department of Labor and Employment or any of the duly authorized hearing officers of the Department is empowered, through summary proceeding and after due notice, to hear and decide any matter involving the recovery of wages and other monetary claims and benefits, including legal interest, owing to an employee or person employed in domestic or household service or househelper under this Code, arising from employer-employee relations: Provided, That such complaint does not include a claim for reinstatement: Provided further, That the aggregate money claims of each employee or househelper does not exceed Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00). The Regional Director or hearing officer shall decide or resolve the complaint within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of the filing of the same. Any sum thus recovered on behalf of any employee or househelper pursuant to this Article shall be held in a special deposit account by, and shall be paid on order of, the Secretary of Labor and Employment or the Regional Director directly to the employee or househelper concerned. Any such sum not paid to the employee or househelper because he cannot be located after diligent and reasonable effort to locate him within a period of three (3) years, shall be held as a special fund of the Department of Labor and Employment to be used exclusively for the amelioration and benefit of workers.
Any decision or resolution of the Regional Director or hearing officer pursuant to this provision may be appealed on the same grounds provided in Article 223 of this Code, within five (5) calendar days from receipt of a copy of said decision or resolution, to the National Labor Relations Commission which shall resolve the appeal within ten (10) calendar days from the submission of the last pleading required or allowed under its rules.
The Secretary of Labor and Employment or his duly authorized representative may supervise the payment of unpaid wages and other monetary claims and benefits, including legal interest, found owing to any employee or househelper under this Code. (As amended by Section 2, Republic Act No. 6715, March 21, 1989)
Title III
WORKING CONDITIONS FOR
SPECIAL GROUPS OF EMPLOYEES
Chapter I
EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN
Source: lawphil.net (PD 442 as amended)
RELATED RIGHTS
Legal disclaimer: BatasKo provides general legal information, not legal advice. For advice on your specific employment situation, consult a licensed Filipino lawyer or the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) at pao.gov.ph.