STRENGTHENING BATANGAS COOPERATIVES: DOLE DELIVERS LABOR AWARENESS THROUGH LEES

The DOLE Batangas Provincial Office conducted a Labor and Employment Education Services (LEES) session for 32 members of the Cooperative Union of Batangas (CUB) last November 14. Ms. Ann Jelyn F. Natividad, Senior Labor and Employment Officer of DOLE Batangas delivered a comprehensive discussion on key labor standards and compliance guidelines.

Ms. Ann Jelyn Natividad shared her expertise to 32 members of Cooperative Union of Batangas, through LEES.   (Photo by / Arlene A. Garcia DOLE-BPO)

The refresher session aimed to strengthen cooperatives’ knowledge of labor laws, ensuring that both employees and management clearly understand their benefits and employee guidelines. Among the major topics Ms. Natividad covered were wage and rate standards, service incentive leave policies, proper holiday pay computation, mandatory benefits, and DOLE’s technical assistance programs.

Mr. Jonald Boy Comia of Batangas Electric Cooperatives and one of the attendees of LEES conducted by DOLE Batangas (Photo by / Arlene A. Garcia DOLE-BPO)

One of the participants, Mr. Jonald Boy Comia, shared that despite having worked for 20 years, the session provided him with new perspectives on labor laws and compliance. “Ang mga natutunan ko ngayun ay iimpart ko sa aming cooperative, para maimplement ang kaylangan implement, lalo na at para sa benepisyo ito ng mga empleyado,” he remarked.

CUB Chairperson Dr. Angelito Bagui expressed his gratitude to DOLE for the session, noting that strengthened knowledge of labor standards enables cooperatives to support their members more effectively. Furthermore, he said that when cooperatives work hand in hand with government agencies like DOLE, collaboration contributes to uplifting the lives of Batangueños.

Participants asked questions and relayed their current practices on their cooperatives. (Photo by / Arlene A. Garcia DOLE-BPO)

The activity concluded with a question-and-answer session, where participants shared their experiences, questions and the best practices they use within their respective cooperatives.

Through LEES, DOLE remains committed to enhancing labor law awareness and fostering compliance among organizations throughout the province.#