Philippine Labor Law Glossary
Definition: A Med-Arbiter is an officer in a DOLE Regional Office or the Bureau of Labor Relations authorized to hear and decide representation cases, inter- and intra-union disputes and related labor-relations matters within the scope of the rules.
What a Med-Arbiter Does
Under the implementing rules of Book V of the Labor Code, a Med-Arbiter is authorized to hear and decide representation cases, inter- and intra-union disputes and other related labor-relations disputes within the jurisdiction assigned by the rules.
The role is distinct from that of a Labor Arbiter, who adjudicates cases within the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Commission. Med-Arbiters primarily deal with representation and union-related disputes under DOLE’s labor-relations framework.
Common Matters
- Representation and certification-election disputes
- Inter-union disputes
- Intra-union disputes
- Other labor-relations matters assigned by the applicable rules
Common Misunderstanding
Misunderstanding: A Med-Arbiter and an NLRC Labor Arbiter perform the same function.
Correct approach: They operate under different parts of the labor-dispute system and generally handle different types of cases.
Related Terms
Sources and Legal Citations
- DOLE Department Order No. 40-03 — implementing rules of Book V and definition of Med-Arbiter. Supreme Court E-Library copy.
Editorial Review and Legal-Review Status
Prepared by: LaborCode.ph Editorial Team
Source verification: Official legal source checked on August 8, 2026
Article-level legal review status: No named lawyer-review credit has been assigned to this glossary entry.
Disclaimer
Jurisdiction can depend on the exact nature and procedural posture of the union or representation dispute.