Philippine labor filing tool

Where Should I File: DOLE, NLRC or SEnA?

Answer a few questions to identify the most likely starting point for your workplace concern and the next steps to prepare.

Direct answer: Most individual private-sector employment disputes start with a SEnA Request for Assistance. If unresolved, the proper office depends on the issue and remedy. Answer the questions below to see a likely route.

Already preparing for SEnA? Organize your timeline, pay worksheet and evidence index below.

Question 10%

Are you a government employee?

Government personnel usually use civil-service or agency remedies.

Loading choices…

SEnA Claim Preparation Pack with a timeline, claim worksheet, evidence index, and document folder.

Organize before you file

SEnA preparation pack

Turn your own records into a dated timeline, pay-period worksheet, evidence index and factual summary you can review, print or save.

Preparation only. Nothing is filed here. LaborCode.ph is independent of DOLE and the NLRC. This tool does not decide entitlement, jurisdiction or filing deadlines. All entries and outputs are user-reported and unverified. Do not delay urgent help or a time-sensitive filing while gathering records.

No account or file upload. This builder keeps entries in this page’s memory and does not save them to the site or put them in the URL. Refreshing or leaving may lose your work. Optional aliases are enough: leave out IDs, account numbers, passwords, medical details and information about children. Generic usage events contain no case entries. Review exports before sharing; your browser or device may retain copies.

When you are ready for the official step

SEnA is a conciliation-mediation process. Some concerns use separate procedures; do not assume every issue belongs in SEnA. Eligible parties can submit and track a Request for Assistance through official DOLE ARMS, or ask a DOLE, NCMB or NLRC assistance desk about onsite filing. Opening that service does not send this pack or any entries.

  1. Check your facts, unknowns and supporting records. Confirm the right route, receiving office and any deadline with the agency or a qualified adviser.
  2. Use the official service separately and provide only the details it actually requires. Follow the receiving office’s instructions.
  3. Keep the official reference or docket number, acknowledgment and conference or referral records. This preparation pack alone is not proof of filing.

DOLE’s current SEnA framework is Department Order 249, series of 2025. Its conciliation period is not a universal deadline for filing a legal claim. Sources: DOLE ARMS and DOLE’s updated SEnA guidance. Sources rechecked as of: October 7, 2026

DOLE, SEnA and NLRC: quick comparison

Office or processMain roleTypical use
SEnATime-bound conciliation-mediation before formal adjudicationUsual entry point for an individual employment dispute
DOLE Regional OfficeLabor-standards enforcement, inspection and qualifying small money claimsWage or standards violations; Article 129 claims when its conditions are met
NLRC Labor ArbiterFormal adjudication of cases within Labor Arbiter jurisdictionDismissal, reinstatement, unfair labor practice and covered money or damages claims
NCMBConciliation, preventive mediation and voluntary arbitration for collective disputesBargaining deadlocks, strike or lockout matters and CBA-related mechanisms

Documents to prepare

Prepare a short chronology and preserve records that identify the employer, prove the work relationship, show what happened and support the remedy requested. Useful records include the employment contract, company ID, payslips, bank credits, schedules, time records, notices, emails, complete message threads, resignation or termination papers, benefit contribution records and a month-by-month computation for money claims.

Frequently asked questions: where should you file?

Should I file with SEnA, DOLE or the NLRC first?
Most individual private-sector employment disputes should start with a SEnA Request for Assistance. If the dispute is not settled, the next forum depends on jurisdiction: a DOLE Regional Office may handle labor-standards enforcement or a qualifying Article 129 claim, while an NLRC Labor Arbiter generally handles dismissal, reinstatement, unfair labor practice and covered employer–employee money claims.
Is SEnA the same as filing a formal labor case?
No. SEnA is a conciliation-mediation process intended to help the parties reach a voluntary settlement. A formal complaint before a Labor Arbiter or another adjudicatory office is a separate step when conciliation does not resolve the dispute.
Can I go directly to the NLRC?
Some disputes are non-SEnAble or fall within an exception, but a person should not assume that NLRC jurisdiction automatically means skipping SEnA. Confirm the current intake rule with the NLRC or SEnA desk before filing.
Where do I file an illegal dismissal complaint?
An illegal-dismissal dispute commonly begins through SEnA and, if unresolved, proceeds to the proper NLRC Regional Arbitration Branch. A Labor Arbiter determines whether dismissal occurred, whether the employer proved a lawful ground and what remedies apply.
Where do I file an unpaid salary or final-pay claim?
Start with SEnA. If the claim is payment-only, does not include reinstatement and does not exceed ₱5,000 per employee, ask whether the DOLE Regional Director’s Article 129 summary route applies. Larger claims or claims joined with dismissal or reinstatement may fall within Labor Arbiter jurisdiction.
Can I file while I am still employed?
Yes. An employee does not generally need to resign before requesting SEnA assistance or reporting a labor-standards violation. Preserve evidence of any threat or retaliation connected with the complaint.
Which office should I use if I am a government employee?
Government personnel generally use their agency grievance or disciplinary process and Civil Service Commission remedies rather than the ordinary DOLE–NLRC route. Job-order and contract-of-service workers should confirm their status because their remedies may arise from the contract or another forum.
Where should an OFW file a complaint?
Overseas recruitment, welfare, repatriation and contract matters use specialized Department of Migrant Workers or Migrant Workers Office channels. The formal forum for a money claim can depend on the parties and remedy, so ask the DMW or receiving desk to confirm whether the matter is administrative, welfare-related or for NLRC adjudication.
Where should I report an urgent workplace safety danger?
Report a serious occupational-safety danger directly to the nearest DOLE Regional, Provincial or Field Office. If someone faces immediate harm, contact local emergency services first. Do not delay an urgent safety report merely to complete SEnA.
Where do union, strike or bargaining disputes go?
Unfair labor practice cases are generally within Labor Arbiter jurisdiction. Bargaining deadlocks, preventive mediation, notices of strike or lockout and voluntary-arbitration mechanisms involve the NCMB. Union registration, representation and certain internal union disputes may involve the Bureau of Labor Relations or the appropriate DOLE Regional Office.
Where do I complain about missing SSS, PhilHealth or Pag-IBIG contributions?
Report the missing record or remittance to the concerned benefit agency and preserve payslips showing deductions. You may also start a SEnA request concerning the employer’s failure to register or remit and any related employment claim.
What if the company calls me a freelancer or independent contractor?
The contract label is not conclusive. Evidence showing who controlled the work, schedule, methods, discipline and payment may establish an employment relationship. Start with SEnA when the relationship may actually be employment; a Labor Arbiter may need to decide status. A genuine independent contractor’s civil claim may belong in another forum.
Do I need a lawyer to file SEnA or an NLRC complaint?
A lawyer is not required merely to request SEnA assistance. Proceedings before Labor Arbiters are intended to be non-litigious, but legal help becomes more valuable when employment status, jurisdiction, prescription, a large claim, dismissal or evidence is seriously disputed.
Is there a filing fee?
SEnA is intended to be accessible and inexpensive. Formal proceedings may have specific filing, legal-research or incidental requirements depending on the forum and claim. Confirm the current amount and accepted payment method with the receiving office rather than relying on an old online figure.
Can I file online?
Eligible requesting parties may submit a SEnA Request for Assistance through DOLE’s official online system. NLRC filing channels and requirements depend on the current rules and case stage. Use only official government portals and keep the confirmation or reference number.
Which regional office or branch has venue?
Venue commonly depends on where the employee works or worked, but special rules and agreed venues may affect a case. Confirm the correct DOLE office or NLRC Regional Arbitration Branch before submitting a formal complaint.
How long do I have to file?
Deadlines depend on the cause of action. Employment money claims generally have a different prescriptive period from illegal-dismissal, unfair-labor-practice or benefit claims. Starting conciliation does not justify waiting indefinitely. Identify the earliest possible deadline and obtain case-specific advice when time is close.
What happens if SEnA does not settle the dispute?
The SEnA desk should identify or refer the unresolved matter to the office with jurisdiction. Preserve the Request for Assistance, conference records, referral or endorsement, settlement proposals and every document needed for the next forum.

Official sources and further guidance

Review the official SEnA portal, the National Labor Relations Commission and the National Conciliation and Mediation Board. For the legal framework, see Republic Act No. 10396 and the Labor Code provisions governing DOLE and Labor Arbiter jurisdiction.

Filing routes last materially reviewed: September 15, 2026. Case-packet guidance added: October 4, 2026. This tool provides general legal information. It does not create an attorney–client relationship, determine jurisdiction or guarantee acceptance by an agency or tribunal.

Stay informed. Know your rights.

Sign up to receive updated Laborcode content in your inbox.

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.