Senator Christopher "Bong" Go is now pushing for institutionalization of survivorship benefits for the legitimate families of deceased retired chairperson, and commissioner or labor arbiter of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC). Go, in filing Senate Bill No. 2110, the senator emphasized the need to provide support and assistance to the families of NLRC officials who passed away while in service. “NLRC officials play a vital role in ensuring that labor disputes are resolved promptly and fairly, which is essential in maintaining harmonious labor-management relations in the country,” said Go. “They often sacrifice personal time and resources to efficiently perform their duties, and their contributions to the agency should be recognized and appreciated,” he emphasized. NLRC is a quasi-judicial body attached to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). It is tasked with promoting and maintaining industrial peace by resolving labor and management disputes involving workers. Currently, under Republic Act (RA) No. 9437, members of the Judiciary and their beneficiaries are granted additional retirement and survivorship benefits. But the chairperson, commissioners and labor arbiters of the Commission are not covered by the increase in retirement and survivorship benefits. If passed into law, the bill shall entitle the surviving legitimate spouse and dependent children of the deceased chairperson, commissioner or labor arbiter of the NLRC, who has retired, or was eligible for optional retirement at the time of death, to receive all the retirement benefits that the deceased would have received at the time of demise, on a monthly basis. The dependent children covered under the measure refers to a legitimate, illegitimate or legally adopted child who is chiefly dependent on the said deceased chairperson, commissioner or labor arbiter if dependent is not more than 21 years of age, unmarried and not gainfully employed, or if such dependent, regardless of age, is incapable of self-support because of any mental or physical defect or condition. Also under the bill, the surviving legitimate spouse shall continue to receive such retirement benefits until the death or remarriage of the said surviving spouse, provided that the surviving spouse and dependent children shall each equally share the retirement benefits. “It is very much essential for the government to provide survivorship benefits to the legitimate family of deceased NLRC officials as part of our way to recognize their contribution to the agency,” Go said.