Arbitration Regulatory Issue on Integrity in Labor-Management Conflict Resolution in the Philippines: Hop on or Hop Off?

Objectives: The research aimed to assess the role of the private sector in influencing or affecting the integrity performance of the arbitration process and the actors involved. It intended to propose a monitoring solution to the regulatory issue on integrity through public-private collaboration. Methods: The researcher utilized purposive non-parametric study of two Philippine government agencies involved in the administration of justice in Metro Manila. They employed a descriptive survey method to identify, describe, and document the influence of stakeholders. Additionally, focus group discussions among selected practitioners/litigants from workers, employers, and lawyers, along with interviews of resource persons from various areas of justice administration, were conducted to validate and clarify survey results. Results: The study revealed a volatile environment in labor justice administration, wherein existing mechanisms proved vulnerable to corruption. It highlighted concerns such as partiality, lack of credibility, and independence of arbitrators, which eroded public trust in the arbitration process and outcomes. Conclusion: The study proposes a paradigm shift from the current compartmentalized and complaint-driven anti-corruption strategy to the researcher’s conceptualized “A.C.T.I.V.E. Public Service Delivery.” This approach aims to address identified integrity gaps related to vertical, horizontal, external, and developmental accountabilities. By doing so, it seeks to enhance the integrity performance of the arbitration process and restore public trust in labor justice administration.