‘KAWAWANG MANGGAGAWA’ | Tulfo slams inequality in enforcing labor dispute judgments

November 7, 2022 , 09:49 PM

(November 7, 2022) – Sen. Raffy Tulfo on Monday raised concerns about the double standards in upholding the rights of employees and employers in labor disputes, making it difficult for abused workers to attain justice.

In his privilege speech, Tulfo said there have been numerous reports of workers who are facing challenges in recovering their claims from the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) despite receiving a favorable decision.

He recounted a case of a group of 20 workers who won a labor dispute but still have not been unable to receive their claims, even when nine of them already passed away.

“It seems that we have become desensitized with regard to the plight of our laborers in the cases they file with the NLRC. Recently there has been an increase in incidents of employees encountering difficulties in recovering their money claims or executing judgments that they fought so hard for,” said Tulfo.

The NLRC, a quasi-judicial agency attached to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), is tasked to handle labor issues through arbitration and other forms of dispute resolution.

Tulfo noted that employees face the biggest problem in recovering their claims on the level of the labor arbiter since companies only need to file a cash bond or surety bond when they appeal to the NLRC, making it “easier to simply hide.”

“Indeed, the enforcement of rights through litigation is not the same for employers and employees,” added Tulfo. “Iba ang pinagdadaanan ng abusadong employer at ng kawawang manggagawa.”

International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), an institution based in Belgium, ranked the Philippines as one of the 10 worst countries in the world for workers due to “violence and murders, arrests during strikes, and state repression.”

The DOLE reported an increase in the number of labor disputes from January to May, according to a report by BusinessMirror last June. The Federation of Free Workers said this could increase in the coming months due to the soaring prices of commodities which directly affect workers.

Labor groups criticized President Bongbong Marcos Jr. for his alleged lack of clear plans in addressing labor issues during his inaugural State of the Nation Address last July.

Tulfo, who was exposed to labor disputes during his stint as a broadcaster, said he plans to file a proposal to garnish the properties of employers with the labor arbiter so that employees will have a way to recover their claims if they receive a favorable judgment from the NLRC.

He also proposed amendments in resolving labor disputes so that if a company could not provide the settlements, the officials will be held liable.

“We provide our laborers with so much benefits, but when it is violated and we do not ensure its enforcement, our work here in the legislature becomes useless,” said Tulfo.

(PM)

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