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‭ART. 97. Definitions.

- As used in this Title:‬

(‭ a)‬‭"Person"‬‭means‬‭an‬‭individual,‬‭partnership,‬‭association,‬‭corporation,‬‭business‬‭trust,‬‭legal‬‭representatives,‬
‭or any organized group of persons.‬

(‭ b)‬‭"Employer"‬‭includes‬‭any‬‭person‬‭acting‬‭directly‬‭or‬‭indirectly‬‭in‬‭the‬‭interest‬‭of‬‭an‬‭employer‬‭in‬‭relation‬‭to‬‭an‬
‭employee‬ ‭and‬ ‭shall‬ ‭include‬ ‭the‬ ‭government‬ ‭and‬ ‭all‬ ‭its‬ ‭branches,‬ ‭subdivisions‬ ‭and‬ ‭instrumentalities,‬ ‭all‬
‭government-owned‬ ‭or‬ ‭controlled‬ ‭corporations‬ ‭and‬ ‭institutions,‬ ‭as‬ ‭well‬ ‭as‬ ‭non-profit‬ ‭private‬ ‭institutions,‬ ‭or‬
‭organizations.‬

‭(c) "Employee" includes any individual employed by an employer.‬

(‭ d)‬‭"Agriculture"‬‭includes‬‭farming‬‭in‬‭all‬‭its‬‭branches‬‭and,‬‭among‬‭other‬‭things,‬‭includes‬‭cultivation‬‭and‬‭tillage‬
‭of‬ ‭soil,‬ ‭dairying,‬ ‭the‬ ‭production,‬ ‭cultivation,‬ ‭growing‬ ‭and‬ ‭harvesting‬ ‭of‬ ‭any‬ ‭agricultural‬ ‭and‬ ‭horticultural‬
‭commodities,‬ ‭the‬ ‭raising‬ ‭of‬ ‭livestock‬ ‭or‬ ‭poultry,‬ ‭and‬ ‭any‬ ‭practices‬ ‭performed‬ ‭by‬‭a‬‭farmer‬‭on‬‭a‬‭farm‬‭as‬‭an‬
‭incident‬ ‭to‬ ‭or‬ ‭in‬ ‭conjunction‬ ‭with‬ ‭such‬ ‭farming‬ ‭operations,‬ ‭but‬ ‭does‬ ‭not‬ ‭include‬ ‭the‬ ‭manufacturing‬ ‭or‬
‭processing of sugar, coconuts, abaca, tobacco, pineapples or other farm products.‬

‭(e) "Employ" includes to suffer or permit to work.‬

(‭ f)‬‭"Wage"‬‭paid‬‭to‬‭any‬‭employee‬‭shall‬‭mean‬‭the‬‭remuneration‬‭or‬‭earnings,‬‭however‬‭designated,‬‭capable‬‭of‬
‭being‬ ‭expressed‬ ‭in‬ ‭terms‬ ‭of‬ ‭money,‬ ‭whether‬ ‭fixed‬ ‭or‬ ‭ascertained‬ ‭on‬ ‭a‬ ‭time,‬ ‭task,‬ ‭piece,‬ ‭or‬ ‭commission‬
‭basis,‬ ‭or‬ ‭other‬ ‭method‬ ‭of‬ ‭calculating‬ ‭the‬ ‭same,‬ ‭which‬ ‭is‬‭payable‬‭by‬‭an‬‭employer‬‭to‬‭an‬‭employee‬‭under‬‭a‬
‭written‬ ‭or‬ ‭unwritten‬ ‭contract‬ ‭of‬ ‭employment‬ ‭for‬‭work‬‭done‬‭or‬‭to‬‭be‬‭done,‬‭or‬‭for‬‭services‬‭rendered‬‭or‬‭to‬‭be‬
‭rendered‬ ‭and‬ ‭includes‬ ‭the‬ ‭fair‬ ‭and‬ ‭reasonable‬ ‭value,‬ ‭as‬ ‭determined‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭Secretary‬ ‭of‬ ‭Labor‬ ‭and‬
‭Employment,‬ ‭of‬ ‭board,‬ ‭lodging,‬ ‭or‬ ‭other‬ ‭facilities‬ ‭customarily‬ ‭furnished‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭employer‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭employee.‬
‭"Fair‬ ‭and‬ ‭reasonable‬ ‭value"‬‭shall‬‭not‬‭include‬‭any‬‭profit‬‭to‬‭the‬‭employer,‬‭or‬‭to‬‭any‬‭person‬‭affiliated‬‭with‬‭the‬
‭employer.‬

‭ART. 100. Prohibition against elimination or diminution of benefits.‬

‭ othing‬‭in‬‭this‬‭Book‬‭shall‬‭be‬‭construed‬‭to‬‭eliminate‬‭or‬‭in‬‭any‬‭way‬‭diminish‬‭supplements,‬‭or‬‭other‬‭employee‬
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‭benefits being enjoyed at the time of promulgation of this Code.‬

‭Art. 97: Notes and Discussion‬


‭Wage‬ ‭Salary‬

‭ ompensation for manual labor, skilled or unskilled,‬


C ‭ enotes a higher degree of employment, or a‬
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‭paid at stated time and measured by the day,‬ ‭superior grade of services, and implies a position of‬
‭week,month or season.‬ ‭office.‬
‭●‬ ‭Pay for a lower and less responsible‬ ‭●‬ ‭Suggestive of a larger and more permanent‬
‭character of employment‬ ‭or fixed compensation for more important‬
‭service‬
*‭ * Wage and Salary are in essence synonymous‬
‭Includes:‬‭(C-F-C)‬
‭1.‬ ‭C‭o ‬ mmission‬
‭2.‬ ‭F‭a
‬ cilities‬
‭3.‬ ‭C‭o
‬ mmodities/Supplements‬

‭Without these‬‭requirements‬‭, employer cannot deduct‬‭the value from employee’s wage:‬‭(C-A-R)‬


‭1.‬ ‭Proof must be show that such facilities are‬‭C‭u ‬ stomarily‬‭furnished by trade‬
‭2.‬ ‭Provision of deductible facilities must be voluntarily‬‭A‭c‬ cepted in writing by the employee‬
‭3.‬ ‭Facilities must be charged at fair and‬‭R‬‭easonable value‬

‭ age includes Facilities and Commodities‬


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‭Includes‬ ‭the‬ ‭fair‬ ‭and‬ ‭reasonable‬ ‭value‬ ‭for‬ ‭board,‬ ‭lodging,‬‭or‬‭other‬‭facilities.‬‭Employer‬‭may‬‭provide‬‭food‬‭and‬
‭housing to his employees but he may deduct their values from employees’ wages.‬
‭Facilities‬ ‭Supplements‬

‭ hall include articles or services for the benefit of the employee‬


S ‭ onstitute extra remuneration or special privileges or‬
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‭or his family but shall not include tools of the trade or articles or‬ ‭benefits given to or received by the laborers over and‬
‭service primarily for the benefit of the employer or necessary to‬
‭the conduct of the employer’s business.‬ ‭above their ordinary earnings or wages.‬

‭ ecessary for the employer’s and his family’s existence and‬


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‭subsistence, so that by express provision of law‬‭forms part of‬
‭the wage‬‭and when furnished by the employer are deductible‬
‭there from, since if they are not furnished, the laborer would‬
‭spend and pay for them just the same .‬

‭**‬‭Facilities are wage-deductible, supplements are not‬

‭ alary distinguished from Gratuity‬


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‭Gratuity‬ ‭is‬ ‭something‬ ‭freely‬ ‭given;‬ ‭without‬ ‭recompense;‬ ‭a‬ ‭gift.‬ ‭Rendered‬ ‭fully‬ ‭out‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭generosity‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬
‭grantor.‬‭Not‬‭intended‬‭to‬‭pay‬‭a‬‭worker‬‭for‬‭actual‬‭services‬‭rendered.‬‭Purpose‬‭is‬‭to‬‭reward‬‭employees‬‭who‬‭have‬
‭rendered satisfactory and efficient service to the company.‬

‭ air Day’s Wage for a Fair Day’s Labor‬


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‭No‬‭work‬‭no‬‭pay‬‭unless‬‭the‬‭laborer‬‭was‬‭able,‬‭willing‬‭and‬‭ready‬‭to‬‭work‬‭but‬‭was‬‭prevented‬‭by‬‭management‬‭or‬
‭was illegally locked out, suspended, or dismissed.‬
‭Equal‬ ‭pay‬ ‭Equal‬ ‭Work‬ ‭-‬ ‭In‬ ‭performing‬ ‭similar‬ ‭functions‬ ‭and‬ ‭responsibilities‬ ‭such‬ ‭as‬ ‭position‬ ‭and‬ ‭rank,‬
‭perception is that these employees perform equal work.‬

‭ gricultural Work‬‭- Work on the soil and its harvest.‬


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‭Employed in operations other than purely agricultural work are deemed industrial employees.‬
‭Activities categorized as agricultural (T-F-I)‬
‭1.‬ ‭T‭i‬llage‬ ‭of‬ ‭soil,‬ ‭raising‬ ‭crops‬ ‭including‬ ‭discovery‬ ‭of‬ ‭plant‬ ‭pest‬ ‭and‬ ‭their‬ ‭eradication‬ ‭by‬ ‭means‬ ‭of‬
‭insecticides done in Bureau of Plant Industry Experimental Station‬
‭2.‬ ‭Business of‬‭F‭i‬shpond‬
‭3.‬ ‭Employees of‬‭I‭n ‬ ternational Rice Research Institute‬

‭Songco vs. NLRC, March 23, 1990 Millares vs NLRC‬

‭ acts:‬‭Private respondent F.E. Zuellig filed with the Department of Labor‬


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‭an‬ ‭application‬ ‭seeking‬ ‭clearance‬ ‭to‬ ‭terminate‬ ‭the‬ ‭services‬ ‭of‬ ‭petitioners‬ ‭Jose‬ ‭Songco,Romeo‬ ‭Cipres,‬ ‭and‬
‭Amancio‬ ‭Manuel.‬ ‭allegedly‬ ‭on‬ ‭the‬ ‭ground‬ ‭of‬ ‭retrenchment‬ ‭due‬ ‭to‬ ‭financial‬ ‭losses.‬ ‭This‬ ‭application‬ ‭was‬
‭seasonably‬ ‭opposed‬ ‭by‬ ‭petitioners‬ ‭alleging‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬ ‭company‬ ‭is‬‭not‬‭suffering‬‭from‬‭any‬‭losses.‬‭They‬‭alleged‬
‭further‬‭that‬‭they‬‭are‬‭being‬‭dismissed‬‭because‬‭of‬‭their‬‭membership‬‭in‬‭the‬‭union.‬‭At‬‭the‬‭last‬‭hearing‬‭of‬‭the‬‭case,‬
‭however,‬‭petitioners‬‭manifested‬‭that‬‭they‬‭are‬‭no‬‭longer‬‭contesting‬‭their‬‭dismissal.‬‭The‬‭parties‬‭then‬‭agreed‬‭that‬
‭the‬‭sole‬‭issue‬‭to‬‭be‬‭resolved‬‭is‬‭the‬‭basis‬‭of‬‭the‬‭separation‬‭pay‬‭due‬‭to‬‭petitioners.‬‭Petitioners,‬‭who‬‭were‬‭in‬‭the‬
‭sales‬‭force‬‭of‬‭Zuellig‬‭received‬‭monthly‬‭salaries‬‭of‬‭at‬‭least‬‭P40,000.‬‭In‬‭addition,‬‭they‬‭received‬‭commissions‬‭for‬
‭every sale they made.‬
‭The collective Bargaining Agreement provides: Retirement Gratuity, Reduction of personnel‬

‭ here‬ ‭the‬ ‭termination‬ ‭of‬ ‭employment‬ ‭is‬ ‭due‬ ‭to‬ ‭retrenchment‬ ‭initiated‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭employer‬‭to‬‭prevent‬‭losses‬‭or‬
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‭other‬ ‭similar‬ ‭causes,‬ ‭or‬ ‭where‬ ‭the‬ ‭employee‬ ‭suffers‬ ‭from‬ ‭a‬ ‭disease‬ ‭and‬ ‭his‬ ‭continued‬ ‭employment‬ ‭is‬
‭prohibited‬‭by‬‭law‬‭or‬‭is‬‭prejudicial‬‭to‬‭his‬‭health‬‭or‬‭to‬‭the‬‭health‬‭of‬‭his‬‭employees,‬‭the‬‭employee‬‭shall‬‭be‬‭entitled‬
‭to‬ ‭termination‬ ‭pay‬ ‭equivalent‬ ‭at‬ ‭least‬ ‭to‬ ‭his‬ ‭one‬ ‭month‬ ‭salary,‬ ‭or‬ ‭to‬ ‭one-half‬ ‭month‬ ‭pay‬ ‭for‬ ‭every‬ ‭year‬ ‭of‬
‭service, whichever is higher‬

I‭SSUE:‬
‭W/N‬‭earned‬‭sales‬‭commissions‬‭and‬‭allowances‬‭should‬‭be‬‭included‬‭in‬‭the‬‭monthly‬‭salary‬‭of‬‭petitioners‬‭for‬
‭the purpose of computation of their separation pay.‬

‭ ULING:‬‭YES,‬‭commissions‬‭and‬‭allowances‬‭should‬‭be‬‭included.‬‭Petitioners'‬‭position‬‭was‬‭that‬‭in‬‭arriving‬
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‭at the correct and legal amount of separation pay due them‬

‭cited Article 97(f) of the‬‭Labor Code includes commission as part on one's salary‬
(‭ f)‬‭'Wage'‬‭paid‬‭to‬‭any‬‭employee‬‭shall‬‭mean‬‭the‬‭remuneration‬‭or‬‭earnings,‬‭however‬‭designated,‬‭capable‬‭of‬‭being‬‭expressed‬‭in‬‭terms‬‭of‬
‭money,‬ ‭whether‬ ‭fixed‬ ‭or‬ ‭ascertained‬ ‭on‬‭a‬‭time,‬‭task,‬‭piece,‬‭or‬‭commission‬‭basis,‬‭or‬‭other‬‭method‬‭of‬‭calculating‬‭the‬‭same,‬‭which‬‭is‬
‭payable‬ ‭by‬ ‭an‬ ‭employer‬ ‭to‬ ‭an‬ ‭employee‬ ‭under‬ ‭a‬ ‭written‬ ‭or‬ ‭unwritten‬ ‭contract‬ ‭of‬ ‭employment‬ ‭for‬ ‭work‬ ‭done‬ ‭or‬ ‭to‬ ‭be‬‭done,‬‭or‬‭for‬
‭services‬‭rendered‬‭or‬‭to‬‭be‬‭rendered,‬‭and‬‭includes‬‭the‬‭fair‬‭and‬‭reasonable‬‭value,‬‭as‬‭determined‬‭by‬‭the‬‭Secretary‬‭of‬‭Labor,‬‭of‬‭board,‬
‭lodging,‬‭or‬‭other‬‭facilities‬‭customarily‬‭furnished‬‭by‬‭the‬‭employer‬‭to‬‭the‬‭employee.‬‭'Fair‬‭reasonable‬‭value'‬‭shall‬‭not‬‭include‬‭any‬‭profit‬‭to‬
‭the employer or to any person affiliated with the employer.‬

‭Zuellig‬ ‭argues‬ ‭that‬ ‭if‬ ‭it‬ ‭were‬ ‭really‬ ‭the‬ ‭intention‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬‭Labor‬‭Code‬‭as‬‭well‬‭as‬‭its‬‭implementing‬‭rules‬‭to‬
i‭nclude‬ ‭commission‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭computation‬ ‭of‬ ‭separation‬ ‭pay,‬ ‭it‬ ‭could‬ ‭have‬ ‭explicitly‬ ‭said‬ ‭so‬ ‭in‬ ‭clear‬ ‭and‬
‭unequivocal terms‬

‭ rticle‬ ‭97(f)‬ ‭by‬ ‭itself‬ ‭is‬ ‭explicit‬ ‭that‬ ‭commission‬ ‭is‬ ‭included‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭definition‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭term‬ ‭"wage".‬‭It‬‭has‬‭been‬
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‭repeatedly‬ ‭declared‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭courts‬ ‭that‬ ‭where‬ ‭the‬ ‭law‬ ‭speaks‬ ‭in‬ ‭clear‬ ‭and‬ ‭categorical‬ ‭language,‬‭there‬‭is‬‭no‬
‭room for interpretation or construction; there is only room for application‬

‭ he‬‭definition‬‭of‬‭'wage'‬‭provided‬‭in‬‭Article‬‭96‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Code‬‭can‬‭be‬‭correctly‬‭stated‬‭as‬‭a‬‭general‬‭definition.‬‭It‬‭is‬
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‭'wage‬‭'‬‭in‬‭its‬‭generic‬‭sense‬‭.‬‭A‬‭careful‬‭perusal‬‭of‬‭the‬‭same‬‭does‬‭not‬‭show‬‭any‬‭indication‬‭that‬‭commission‬‭is‬
‭part‬‭of‬‭salary.‬‭We‬‭can‬‭say‬‭that‬‭commission‬‭by‬‭itself‬‭may‬‭be‬‭considered‬‭a‬‭wage.‬‭It‬‭could‬‭be‬‭deduced‬‭that‬‭wage‬
‭is‬‭used‬‭in‬‭its‬‭generic‬‭sense‬‭and‬‭obviously‬‭refers‬‭to‬‭the‬‭basic‬‭wage‬‭rate‬‭to‬‭be‬‭ascertained‬‭on‬‭a‬‭time,‬‭task,‬‭piece‬
‭or‬ ‭commission‬ ‭basis‬ ‭or‬ ‭other‬ ‭method‬ ‭of‬ ‭calculating‬ ‭the‬ ‭same‬‭.‬‭It‬‭does‬‭not,‬‭however,‬‭mean‬‭that‬‭commission,‬
‭allowances or analogous income necessarily forms part of the employee's salary.‬

"‭ wages",‬ ‭"pay"‬‭and‬‭"salary"‬‭have‬‭the‬‭same‬‭meaning,‬‭and‬‭commission‬‭is‬‭included‬‭in‬‭the‬‭definition‬‭of‬


‭"wage"‬‭,‬ ‭the‬ ‭logical‬ ‭conclusion,‬ ‭therefore,‬ ‭is,‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭computation‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭separation‬ ‭pay‬ ‭of‬ ‭petitioners,‬ ‭their‬
‭salary base should include also their earned sales commissions.‬

‭ e‬‭agree‬‭with‬‭the‬‭Solicitor‬‭General‬‭that‬‭granting,‬‭in‬‭gratia‬‭argumenti,‬‭that‬‭the‬‭commissions‬‭were‬‭in‬‭the‬‭form‬‭of‬
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‭incentives‬‭or‬‭encouragement,‬‭so‬‭that‬‭the‬‭petitioners‬‭would‬‭be‬‭inspired‬‭to‬‭put‬‭a‬‭little‬‭more‬‭industry‬‭on‬‭the‬‭jobs‬
‭particularly assigned to them‬

‭ he‬ ‭nature‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭work‬ ‭of‬ ‭a‬ ‭salesman‬ ‭and‬ ‭the‬ ‭reason‬ ‭for‬ ‭such‬ ‭type‬ ‭of‬ ‭remuneration‬ ‭for‬ ‭services‬
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‭rendered‬‭demonstrate‬‭clearly‬‭that‬‭commissions‬‭are‬‭part‬‭of‬‭petitioners'‬‭wage‬‭or‬‭salary.‬‭We‬‭take‬‭judicial‬
‭notice‬‭of‬‭the‬‭fact‬‭that‬‭some‬‭salesmen‬‭do‬‭not‬‭receive‬‭any‬‭basic‬‭salary‬‭but‬‭depend‬‭on‬‭commissions‬‭and‬
‭allowances‬ ‭or‬ ‭commissions‬ ‭alone‬‭,‬ ‭are‬ ‭part‬ ‭of‬ ‭petitioners'‬ ‭wage‬ ‭or‬ ‭salary‬ ‭although‬ ‭an‬
‭employer-employee‬ ‭relationship‬ ‭exists.‬ ‭Bearing‬ ‭in‬‭mind‬‭the‬‭preceding‬‭discussion,‬‭if‬‭we‬‭adopt‬‭the‬‭opposite‬
‭view‬‭that‬‭commissions‬‭do‬‭not‬‭form‬‭part‬‭of‬‭wage‬‭or‬‭salary,‬‭then,‬‭in‬‭effect,‬‭We‬‭will‬‭be‬‭saying‬‭that‬‭this‬‭kind‬‭of‬
‭salesmen‬ ‭do‬ ‭not‬ ‭receive‬‭any‬‭salary‬‭and‬‭therefore,‬‭not‬‭entitled‬‭to‬‭separation‬‭pay‬‭in‬‭the‬‭event‬‭of‬‭discharge‬
‭from employment.‬

‭ he‬ ‭final‬ ‭consideration‬ ‭is‬‭,‬ ‭in‬ ‭carrying‬ ‭out‬ ‭and‬ ‭interpreting‬ ‭the‬ ‭Labor‬ ‭Code's‬ ‭provisions‬ ‭and‬ ‭its‬
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‭implementing‬ ‭regulations,‬ ‭the‬ ‭workingman's‬ ‭welfare‬ ‭should‬ ‭be‬ ‭the‬ ‭primordial‬ ‭and‬ ‭paramount‬
‭consideration.‬‭This‬‭kind‬‭of‬‭interpretation‬‭gives‬‭meaning‬‭and‬‭substance‬‭to‬‭the‬‭liberal‬‭and‬‭compassionate‬‭spirit‬
‭of‬‭the‬‭law‬‭as‬‭provided‬‭for‬‭in‬‭Article‬‭4‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Labor‬‭Code‬‭which‬‭states‬‭that‬‭"all‬‭doubts‬‭in‬‭the‬‭implementation‬‭and‬
‭interpretation‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭provisions‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭Labor‬ ‭Code‬ ‭including‬ ‭its‬ ‭implementing‬ ‭rules‬ ‭and‬ ‭regulations‬ ‭shall‬ ‭be‬
‭resolved in favor of labor"‬

‭ CCORDINGLY,‬ ‭the‬ ‭petition‬ ‭is‬ ‭hereby‬ ‭GRANTED‬‭.‬ ‭The‬‭decision‬‭of‬‭the‬‭respondent‬‭National‬‭Labor‬‭Relations‬


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‭Commission‬‭is‬‭MODIFIED‬‭by‬‭including‬‭allowances‬‭and‬‭commissions‬‭in‬‭the‬‭separation‬‭pay‬‭of‬‭petitioners‬
‭Jose Songco and Amancio Manuel.‬

‭Millares vs NLRC, March 29, 1999 (on facilities vs. supplements)‬

‭ acts:‬ ‭Petitioners‬ ‭numbering‬ ‭one‬ ‭hundred‬ ‭sixteen‬ ‭(116)‬ ‭1‬ ‭occupied‬ ‭the‬ ‭positions‬ ‭of‬ ‭Technical‬ ‭Staff,‬ ‭Unit‬
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‭Manager,‬ ‭Section‬ ‭Manager,‬ ‭Department‬ ‭Manager,‬ ‭Division‬ ‭Manager‬ ‭and‬ ‭Vice‬ ‭President‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭mill‬ ‭site‬ ‭of‬
‭respondent‬‭Paper‬‭Industries‬‭Corporation‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Philippines‬‭(PICOP)‬‭in‬‭Bislig,‬‭Surigao‬‭del‬‭Sur.‬‭In‬‭1992‬‭PICOP‬
‭suffered‬ ‭a‬ ‭major‬ ‭financial‬ ‭setback‬ ‭allegedly‬ ‭brought‬ ‭about‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭joint‬ ‭impact‬ ‭of‬ ‭restrictive‬ ‭government‬
‭regulations‬ ‭on‬ ‭logging‬ ‭and‬ ‭the‬ ‭economic‬ ‭crisis.‬ ‭To‬‭avert‬‭further‬‭losses,‬‭it‬‭undertook‬‭a‬‭retrenchment‬‭program‬
‭and‬ ‭terminated‬ ‭the‬ ‭services‬ ‭of‬ ‭petitioners.‬ ‭Accordingly,‬ ‭petitioners‬ ‭received‬ ‭separation‬ ‭pay‬ ‭computed‬ ‭at‬ ‭the‬
‭rate‬‭of‬‭one‬‭(1)‬‭month‬‭basic‬‭pay‬‭for‬‭every‬‭year‬‭of‬‭service.‬‭Believing‬‭however‬‭that‬‭the‬‭allowances‬‭they‬‭allegedly‬
‭regularly‬ ‭received‬‭on‬‭a‬‭monthly‬‭basis‬‭during‬‭their‬‭employment‬‭should‬‭have‬‭been‬‭included‬‭in‬‭the‬‭computation‬
‭thereof they lodged a complaint for separation pay differentials.‬

‭The allowances in question pertained to the following —‬

‭1.‬‭Staff/Manager’s Allowance‬‭—‬

‭ espondent‬ ‭PICOP‬ ‭provides‬ ‭free‬‭housing‬‭facilities‬‭to‬‭supervisory‬‭and‬‭managerial‬‭employees‬‭assigned‬


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‭in‬ ‭Bislig.‬ ‭The‬ ‭privilege‬ ‭includes‬ ‭free‬ ‭water‬ ‭and‬ ‭electric‬ ‭consumption.‬ ‭Owing‬ ‭however‬ ‭to‬ ‭shortage‬ ‭of‬ ‭such‬
‭facilities,‬‭it‬‭was‬‭constrained‬‭to‬‭grant‬‭Staff‬‭allowance‬‭instead‬‭to‬‭those‬‭who‬‭live‬‭in‬‭rented‬‭houses‬‭outside‬‭but‬‭near‬
‭the‬ ‭vicinity‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭mill‬ ‭site.‬ ‭But‬ ‭the‬ ‭allowance‬ ‭ceases‬ ‭whenever‬ ‭a‬ ‭vacancy‬ ‭occurs‬ ‭in‬‭the‬‭company’s‬‭housing‬
‭facilities.‬ ‭The‬‭former‬‭grantee‬‭is‬‭then‬‭directed‬‭to‬‭fill‬‭the‬‭vacancy.‬‭For‬‭Unit,‬‭Section‬‭and‬‭Department‬‭Managers,‬
‭respondent PICOP gives an additional amount to meet the same kind of expenses called Manager’s allowance.‬

‭2.‬‭Transportation Allowance‬‭—‬

‭ o‬ ‭relieve‬ ‭respondent‬ ‭PICOP’s‬ ‭motor‬ ‭pool‬ ‭in‬ ‭Bislig‬ ‭from‬ ‭a‬ ‭barrage‬ ‭of‬ ‭requests‬ ‭for‬‭company‬‭vehicles‬‭and‬‭to‬
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‭stabilize‬ ‭company‬ ‭vehicle‬ ‭requirements‬ ‭it‬ ‭grants‬ ‭transportation‬ ‭allowance‬ ‭to‬‭key‬‭officers‬‭and‬‭Managers‬
‭assigned‬‭in‬‭the‬‭mill‬‭site‬‭who‬‭use‬‭their‬‭own‬‭vehicles‬‭in‬‭the‬‭performance‬‭of‬‭their‬‭duties.‬‭It‬‭is‬‭a‬‭conditional‬
‭ rant‬‭such‬‭that‬‭when‬‭the‬‭conditions‬‭no‬‭longer‬‭obtain,‬‭the‬‭privilege‬‭is‬‭discontinued.‬‭The‬‭recipients‬‭of‬‭this‬‭kind‬‭of‬
g
‭allowance are required to liquidate it by submitting a report with a detailed enumeration of expenses incurred.‬

‭3‬‭. Bislig Allowance‬‭—‬

‭ he‬‭Bislig‬‭Allowance‬‭is‬‭given‬‭to‬‭Division‬‭Managers‬‭and‬‭corporate‬‭officers‬‭assigned‬‭in‬‭Bislig‬‭on‬‭account‬
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‭of‬‭the‬‭hostile‬‭environment‬‭prevailing‬‭therein‬‭.‬‭But‬‭once‬‭the‬‭recipient‬‭is‬‭transferred‬‭elsewhere‬‭outside‬‭Bislig,‬
‭the allowance ceases.‬

‭ pplying‬‭Art.‬‭97,‬‭par.‬‭(f),‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Labor‬‭Code‬‭which‬‭defines‬‭"wage,"‬‭the‬‭Executive‬‭Labor‬‭Arbiter‬‭opined‬‭that‬‭the‬
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‭subject‬ ‭allowances,‬ ‭being‬ ‭customarily‬ ‭furnished‬ ‭by‬ ‭respondent‬ ‭PICOP‬ ‭and‬ ‭regularly‬ ‭received‬‭by‬‭petitioners,‬
‭formed‬‭part‬‭of‬‭the‬‭latter’s‬‭wages.‬‭Resolving‬‭the‬‭controversy‬‭from‬‭another‬‭angle,‬‭on‬‭the‬‭strength‬‭of‬‭the‬‭ruling‬‭in‬
‭Santos‬ ‭v.‬‭NLRC‬‭2‬‭and‬‭Soriano‬‭v.‬‭NLRC‬‭3‬‭that‬‭in‬‭the‬‭computation‬‭of‬‭separation‬‭pay‬‭account‬‭should‬‭be‬‭taken‬
‭not‬ ‭just‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭basic‬ ‭salary‬ ‭but‬ ‭also‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭regular‬ ‭allowances‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬ ‭employee‬ ‭had‬ ‭been‬ ‭receiving,‬ ‭he‬
‭concluded‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬ ‭allowances‬ ‭should‬ ‭be‬ ‭included‬ ‭in‬ ‭petitioners’‬ ‭base‬ ‭pay.‬ ‭Thus‬ ‭respondent‬ ‭PICOP‬ ‭was‬
‭ordered‬ ‭on‬ ‭28‬ ‭April‬ ‭1994‬ ‭to‬ ‭pay‬ ‭petitioners‬ ‭Four‬ ‭Million‬ ‭Four‬ ‭Hundred‬ ‭Eighty-One‬ ‭Thousand‬ ‭Pesos‬
‭(P4,481,000.00) representing separation pay differentials plus ten per cent (10%) thereof as attorney’s fees. 4‬

‭ he‬‭National‬‭Labor‬‭Relations‬‭Commission‬‭(NLRC)‬‭did‬‭not‬‭share‬‭the‬‭view‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Executive‬‭Labor‬‭Arbiter.‬‭On‬‭7‬
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‭October‬‭1994‬‭it‬‭set‬‭aside‬‭the‬‭assailed‬‭decision‬‭by‬‭decreeing‬‭that‬‭the‬‭allowances‬‭did‬‭not‬‭form‬‭part‬‭of‬‭the‬‭salary‬
‭base‬ ‭used‬ ‭in‬ ‭computing‬‭separation‬‭pay.‬‭Its‬‭ruling‬‭was‬‭based‬‭on‬‭the‬‭finding‬‭that‬‭the‬‭cases‬‭relied‬‭upon‬‭by‬‭the‬
‭Executive‬ ‭Labor‬ ‭Arbiter‬ ‭were‬ ‭inapplicable‬ ‭since‬ ‭they‬ ‭involved‬ ‭illegal‬ ‭dismissal‬ ‭where‬ ‭separation‬ ‭pay‬ ‭was‬
‭granted‬ ‭in‬ ‭lieu‬ ‭of‬ ‭reinstatement‬ ‭which‬ ‭was‬ ‭no‬ ‭longer‬ ‭feasible.‬ ‭Art.‬‭97,‬‭par.‬‭(f),‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Labor‬‭Code,‬‭the‬‭NLRC‬
‭likewise found that petitioners’‬‭allowances were contingency-based and thus not included in their salaries‬‭.‬

I‭n‬‭this‬‭petition‬‭for‬‭certiorari,‬‭petitioners‬‭submit‬‭that‬‭their‬‭allowances‬‭are‬‭included‬‭in‬‭the‬‭definition‬‭of‬‭"facilities"‬‭in‬
‭Art.‬ ‭97,‬ ‭par.‬ ‭(f)‬‭,‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭Labor‬ ‭Code,‬ ‭being‬ ‭necessary‬ ‭and‬ ‭indispensable‬ ‭for‬ ‭their‬ ‭existence‬ ‭and‬‭subsistence.‬
‭Furthermore‬ ‭they‬‭claim‬‭that‬‭their‬‭availment‬‭of‬‭the‬‭monetary‬‭equivalent‬‭of‬‭those‬‭"facilities"‬‭on‬‭a‬‭monthly‬‭basis‬
‭was characterized by permanency, regularity and customariness.‬

‭ here‬‭is‬‭no‬‭showing‬‭of‬‭grave‬‭abuse‬‭of‬‭discretion‬‭on‬‭the‬‭part‬‭of‬‭the‬‭NLRC.‬‭In‬‭case‬‭of‬‭retrenchment‬‭to‬‭prevent‬
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‭losses,‬‭Art.‬‭283‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Labor‬‭Code‬‭imposes‬‭on‬‭the‬‭employer‬‭an‬‭obligation‬‭to‬‭grant‬‭to‬‭the‬‭affected‬‭employees‬
‭separation‬ ‭pay‬ ‭equivalent‬ ‭to‬ ‭one‬ ‭(1)‬ ‭month‬ ‭pay‬ ‭or‬ ‭at‬ ‭least‬ ‭one-half‬ ‭month‬ ‭pay‬ ‭for‬ ‭every‬ ‭year‬ ‭of‬ ‭service,‬
‭whichever‬‭is‬‭higher.‬‭Since‬‭the‬‭law‬‭speaks‬‭of‬‭"pay,"‬‭the‬‭question‬‭arises,‬‭"What‬‭exactly‬‭does‬‭the‬‭term‬‭connote?"‬
‭We‬ ‭correlate‬ ‭Art.‬ ‭283‬ ‭with‬ ‭Art.‬ ‭97‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭same‬ ‭Code‬ ‭on‬ ‭definition‬ ‭of‬ ‭terms.‬ ‭"Pay"‬ ‭is‬ ‭not‬‭defined‬‭therein‬‭but‬
‭"wage."‬‭In‬‭Songco‬‭the‬‭Court‬‭explained‬‭that‬‭both‬‭words‬‭(as‬‭well‬‭as‬‭salary)‬‭generally‬‭refer‬‭to‬‭one‬‭and‬‭the‬‭same‬
‭meaning‬‭,‬‭i.e.,‬‭a‬‭reward‬‭or‬‭recompense‬‭for‬‭services‬‭performed.‬‭Specifically,‬‭"wage"‬‭is‬‭defined‬‭in‬‭letter‬‭(f)‬‭as‬‭the‬
‭remuneration‬ ‭or‬ ‭earnings,‬‭however‬‭designated,‬‭capable‬‭of‬‭being‬‭expressed‬‭in‬‭terms‬‭of‬‭money,‬‭whether‬‭fixed‬
‭or‬ ‭ascertained‬‭on‬‭a‬‭time,‬‭task,‬‭piece,‬‭or‬‭commission‬‭basis,‬‭or‬‭other‬‭method‬‭of‬‭calculating‬‭the‬‭same,‬‭which‬‭is‬
‭payable‬‭by‬‭an‬‭employer‬‭to‬‭an‬‭employee‬‭under‬‭a‬‭written‬‭or‬‭unwritten‬‭contract‬‭of‬‭employment‬‭for‬‭work‬‭done‬‭or‬
‭to‬ ‭be‬ ‭done,‬ ‭or‬ ‭for‬ ‭services‬ ‭rendered‬ ‭or‬ ‭to‬ ‭be‬ ‭rendered‬ ‭and‬ ‭includes‬ ‭the‬ ‭fair‬ ‭and‬ ‭reasonable‬ ‭value,‬ ‭as‬
‭determined‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭Secretary‬ ‭of‬ ‭Labor,‬ ‭of‬ ‭board,‬ ‭lodging,‬ ‭or‬ ‭other‬ ‭facilities‬ ‭customarily‬ ‭furnished‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬
‭employer to the employee.‬

‭ e‬‭invite‬‭attention‬‭to‬‭the‬‭above-underlined‬‭clause.‬‭Stated‬‭differently,‬‭when‬‭an‬‭employer‬‭customarily‬‭furnishes‬
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‭his‬ ‭employee‬ ‭board,‬ ‭lodging‬ ‭or‬ ‭other‬ ‭facilities,‬ ‭the‬ ‭fair‬ ‭and‬ ‭reasonable‬ ‭value‬ ‭thereof,‬ ‭as‬ ‭determined‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬
‭Secretary‬ ‭of‬ ‭Labor‬ ‭and‬ ‭Employment,‬ ‭is‬ ‭included‬ ‭in‬ ‭"wage."‬ ‭In‬ ‭order‬ ‭to‬ ‭ascertain‬ ‭whether‬ ‭the‬ ‭subject‬
‭allowances‬ ‭form‬ ‭part‬ ‭of‬ ‭petitioner’s‬ ‭"wages,"‬ ‭we‬ ‭divide‬ ‭the‬ ‭discussion‬ ‭on‬ ‭the‬ ‭following‬ ‭—‬ ‭"customarily‬
‭furnished;"‬‭"board,‬‭lodging‬‭or‬‭other‬‭facilities;"‬‭and,‬‭"fair‬‭and‬‭reasonable‬‭value‬‭as‬‭determined‬‭by‬‭the‬‭Secretary‬
‭of Labor.‬
‭"Customary"‬ ‭is‬ ‭founded‬ ‭on‬ ‭long-established‬ ‭and‬ ‭constant‬ ‭practice‬ ‭connoting‬ ‭regularity.‬ ‭14‬‭The‬‭receipt‬‭of‬‭an‬
‭allowance‬‭on‬‭a‬‭monthly‬‭basis‬‭does‬‭not‬‭ipso‬‭facto‬‭characterize‬‭it‬‭as‬‭regular‬‭and‬‭forming‬‭part‬‭of‬‭salary‬‭because‬
‭the‬‭nature‬‭of‬‭the‬‭grant‬‭is‬‭a‬‭factor‬‭worth‬‭considering.‬‭We‬‭agree‬‭with‬‭the‬‭observation‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Office‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Solicitor‬
‭General that‬‭the subject allowances were temporarily, not regularly, received by petitioners because —‬

I‭n‬ ‭the‬ ‭case‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭housing‬ ‭allowance,‬ ‭once‬ ‭a‬ ‭vacancy‬ ‭occurs‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭company-provided‬ ‭housing‬
‭accommodations,‬ ‭the‬ ‭employee‬ ‭concerned‬ ‭transfers‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭company‬ ‭premises‬ ‭and‬ ‭his‬ ‭housing‬
‭allowance is discontinued‬‭. . .‬

‭ n‬‭the‬‭other‬‭hand,‬‭the‬‭transportation‬‭allowance‬‭is‬‭in‬‭the‬‭form‬‭of‬‭advances‬‭for‬‭actual‬‭transportation‬‭expenses‬
O
‭subject to liquidation . . . given only to employees who have personal cars.‬

‭ he‬‭Bislig‬‭allowance‬‭is‬‭given‬‭to‬‭Division‬‭Managers‬‭and‬‭corporate‬‭officers‬‭assigned‬‭in‬‭Bislig,‬‭Surigao‬‭del‬‭Norte.‬
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‭Once the officer is transferred outside Bislig, the allowance stops‬‭. 16‬

‭ e‬‭add‬‭that‬‭in‬‭the‬‭availability‬‭of‬‭the‬‭transportation‬‭allowance,‬‭respondent‬‭PICOP‬‭set‬‭another‬‭requirement‬‭that‬
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‭the‬ ‭personal‬ ‭cars‬ ‭be‬ ‭used‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭employees‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭performance‬ ‭of‬ ‭their‬ ‭duties.‬ ‭When‬ ‭the‬ ‭conditions‬ ‭for‬
‭availment ceased to exist, the allowance reached the cutoff point.‬

‭ lthough‬‭it‬‭is‬‭quite‬‭easy‬‭to‬‭comprehend‬‭"board"‬‭and‬‭"lodging,"‬‭it‬‭is‬‭not‬‭so‬‭with‬‭"facilities."‬‭Thus‬‭Sec.‬‭5,‬‭Rule‬‭VII,‬
A
‭Book‬ ‭III,‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭Rules‬ ‭Implementing‬ ‭the‬ ‭Labor‬ ‭Code‬ ‭gives‬ ‭meaning‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭term‬ ‭as‬ ‭including‬ ‭articles‬ ‭or‬
‭ ervices‬ ‭for‬ ‭the‬ ‭benefit‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭employee‬ ‭or‬ ‭his‬ ‭family‬ ‭but‬ ‭excluding‬ ‭tools‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭trade‬ ‭or‬ ‭articles‬ ‭or‬
s
‭service‬ ‭primarily‬ ‭for‬ ‭the‬ ‭benefit‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭employer‬ ‭or‬ ‭necessary‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭conduct‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭employer’s‬
‭business.‬

‭ he‬ ‭Staff/Manager’s‬ ‭allowance‬ ‭may‬ ‭fall‬ ‭under‬ ‭"lodging"‬ ‭but‬ ‭the‬ ‭transportation‬‭and‬‭Bislig‬‭allowances‬
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‭are‬ ‭not‬ ‭embraced‬ ‭in‬ ‭"facilities''‬ ‭on‬ ‭the‬ ‭main‬ ‭consideration‬ ‭that‬ ‭they‬ ‭are‬ ‭granted‬ ‭as‬ ‭well‬ ‭as‬ ‭the‬
‭Staff/Manager’s‬ ‭allowance‬ ‭for‬ ‭respondent‬ ‭PICOP’s‬ ‭benefit‬ ‭and‬ ‭convenience,‬ ‭i.e.,‬ ‭to‬ ‭insure‬ ‭that‬ ‭petitioners‬
‭render‬‭quality‬‭performance.‬‭In‬‭determining‬‭whether‬‭a‬‭privilege‬‭is‬‭a‬‭facility,‬‭the‬‭criterion‬‭is‬‭not‬‭so‬‭much‬‭it's‬‭kind‬
‭but‬ ‭its‬ ‭purpose.‬ ‭That‬ ‭the‬ ‭assailed‬ ‭allowances‬ ‭were‬ ‭for‬ ‭the‬ ‭benefit‬ ‭and‬ ‭convenience‬‭of‬‭respondent‬‭company‬
‭was‬ ‭supported‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭circumstance‬ ‭that‬ ‭they‬ ‭were‬ ‭not‬ ‭subjected‬ ‭to‬ ‭withholding‬ ‭tax.‬ ‭Revenue‬ ‭Audit‬ ‭Memo‬
‭Order No. 1-87 pertinently provides —‬

‭3.2 . . . transportation, representation or entertainment expenses shall not constitute taxable compensation if‬

(‭ a)‬‭It‬‭is‬‭for‬‭necessary‬‭traveling‬‭and‬‭representation‬‭or‬‭entertainment‬‭expenses‬‭paid‬‭or‬‭incurred‬‭by‬‭the‬‭employee‬
‭in the pursuit of the trade or business of the employer, and‬

(‭ b)‬ ‭The‬ ‭employee‬ ‭is‬ ‭required‬ ‭to,‬ ‭and‬ ‭does,‬ ‭make‬ ‭an‬ ‭accounting/liquidation‬ ‭for‬ ‭such‬ ‭expense‬ ‭in‬‭accordance‬
‭with the specific requirements of substantiation for such category or expense.‬

‭ oard‬ ‭and‬ ‭lodging‬ ‭allowances‬ ‭furnished‬‭to‬‭an‬‭employee‬‭not‬‭in‬‭excess‬‭of‬‭the‬‭latter’s‬‭needs‬‭and‬‭given‬‭free‬‭of‬


B
‭charge,‬‭constitute‬‭income‬‭to‬‭the‬‭latter‬‭except‬‭if‬‭such‬‭allowances‬‭or‬‭benefits‬‭are‬‭furnished‬‭to‬‭the‬‭employee‬‭for‬
‭the‬‭convenience‬‭of‬‭the‬‭employer‬‭and‬‭as‬‭necessary‬‭incident‬‭to‬‭proper‬‭performance‬‭of‬‭his‬‭duties‬‭in‬‭which‬‭case‬
‭such benefits or allowances do not constitute taxable income.‬

‭ he‬‭Secretary‬‭of‬‭Labor‬‭and‬‭Employment‬‭under‬‭Sec.‬‭6,‬‭Rule‬‭VII,‬‭Book‬‭III,‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Rules‬‭Implementing‬‭the‬‭Labor‬
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‭Code‬ ‭may‬ ‭from‬‭time‬‭to‬‭time‬‭fix‬‭in‬‭appropriate‬‭issuances‬‭the‬‭"fair‬‭and‬‭reasonable‬‭value‬‭of‬‭board,‬‭lodging‬‭and‬
‭other‬ ‭facilities‬ ‭customarily‬ ‭furnished‬ ‭by‬ ‭an‬ ‭employer‬ ‭to‬ ‭his‬ ‭employees."‬ ‭Petitioners’‬ ‭allowances‬ ‭do‬ ‭not‬
‭represent‬ ‭such‬ ‭fair‬ ‭and‬ ‭reasonable‬ ‭value‬ ‭as‬ ‭determined‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭proper‬ ‭authority‬ ‭simply‬ ‭because‬ ‭the‬
‭Staff/Manager’s‬‭allowance‬‭and‬‭transportation‬‭allowance‬‭were‬‭amounts‬‭given‬‭by‬‭respondent‬‭company‬‭in‬‭lieu‬‭of‬
‭actual‬‭provisions‬‭for‬‭housing‬‭and‬‭transportation‬‭needs‬‭whereas‬‭the‬‭Bislig‬‭allowance‬‭was‬‭given‬‭in‬‭consideration‬
‭of being assigned to the hostile environment then prevailing in Bislig‬

‭ he‬ ‭inevitable‬ ‭conclusion‬ ‭is‬ ‭that,‬ ‭as‬ ‭reached‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭NLRC,‬ ‭subject‬ ‭allowances‬ ‭did‬ ‭not‬ ‭form‬ ‭part‬ ‭of‬
T
‭petitioners’ wages.‬

I‭n‬ ‭Santos‬ ‭the‬ ‭Court‬ ‭decreed‬ ‭that‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭computation‬ ‭of‬ ‭separation‬ ‭pay‬ ‭awarded‬ ‭in‬ ‭lieu‬ ‭of‬ ‭reinstatement,‬
‭account‬‭must‬‭be‬‭taken‬‭not‬‭only‬‭of‬‭the‬‭basic‬‭salary‬‭but‬‭also‬‭of‬‭transportation‬‭and‬‭emergency‬‭living‬‭allowances.‬
‭Later,‬ ‭the‬ ‭Court‬ ‭in‬ ‭Soriano,‬ ‭citing‬ ‭Santos,‬ ‭was‬ ‭general‬ ‭in‬ ‭its‬ ‭holding‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬ ‭salary‬ ‭base‬ ‭properly‬ ‭used‬ ‭in‬
‭computing‬‭separation‬‭pay‬‭where‬‭reinstatement‬‭was‬‭no‬‭longer‬‭feasible‬‭should‬‭include‬‭not‬‭just‬‭the‬‭basic‬‭salary‬
‭but‬ ‭also‬ ‭the‬ ‭regular‬ ‭allowances‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬ ‭employee‬ ‭had‬ ‭been‬ ‭receiving.‬ ‭Insular‬ ‭merely‬ ‭reiterated‬ ‭the‬
‭aforementioned‬‭rulings.‬‭The‬‭rationale‬‭is‬‭not‬‭difficult‬‭to‬‭discern.‬‭It‬‭is‬‭the‬‭obligation‬‭of‬‭the‬‭employer‬‭to‬‭pay‬‭an‬
‭illegally‬ ‭dismissed‬ ‭employee‬ ‭the‬ ‭whole‬ ‭amount‬ ‭of‬ ‭his‬ ‭salaries‬ ‭plus‬ ‭all‬ ‭other‬ ‭benefits,‬ ‭bonuses‬ ‭and‬
‭general‬ ‭increases‬‭to‬‭which‬‭he‬‭would‬‭have‬‭been‬‭normally‬‭entitled‬‭had‬‭he‬‭not‬‭been‬‭dismissed‬‭and‬‭had‬
‭not‬‭stopped‬‭working.‬‭The‬‭same‬‭holds‬‭true‬‭in‬‭case‬‭of‬‭retrenched‬‭employees.‬‭And‬‭thus‬‭we‬‭applied‬‭Insular‬‭and‬
‭Soriano‬ ‭in‬ ‭Planters‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭computation‬ ‭of‬ ‭separation‬‭pay‬‭of‬‭retrenched‬‭employees.‬‭Songco‬‭likewise‬‭involved‬
‭retrenchment‬ ‭and‬ ‭was‬ ‭relied‬ ‭upon‬ ‭by‬ ‭Planters,‬ ‭Soriano‬ ‭and‬ ‭Santos‬ ‭in‬ ‭determining‬ ‭the‬ ‭proper‬ ‭amount‬ ‭of‬
‭separation‬ ‭pay.‬ ‭As‬ ‭culled‬ ‭from‬ ‭the‬ ‭foregoing‬ ‭jurisprudence,‬ ‭separation‬ ‭pay‬ ‭when‬ ‭awarded‬ ‭to‬ ‭an‬ ‭illegally‬
‭dismissed‬‭employee‬‭in‬‭lieu‬‭of‬‭reinstatement‬‭or‬‭to‬‭a‬‭retrenched‬‭employee‬‭should‬‭be‬‭computed‬‭based‬‭not‬‭only‬
‭on‬‭the‬‭basic‬‭salary‬‭but‬‭also‬‭on‬‭the‬‭regular‬‭allowances‬‭that‬‭the‬‭employee‬‭had‬‭been‬‭receiving.‬‭But‬‭in‬‭view‬‭of‬‭the‬
‭previous‬ ‭discussion‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬‭disputed‬‭allowances‬‭were‬‭not‬‭regularly‬‭received‬‭by‬‭petitioners‬‭herein,‬‭there‬‭was‬
‭no reason at all for petitioners to resort to the above cases.‬

‭ either‬ ‭is‬ ‭Kneebone‬ ‭applicable,‬ ‭contrary‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭finding‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭NLRC,‬ ‭because‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭difference‬ ‭in‬ ‭factual‬
N
‭circumstances.‬ ‭In‬ ‭Kneebone,‬ ‭the‬ ‭Court‬ ‭was‬ ‭tasked‬ ‭to‬ ‭resolve‬ ‭the‬ ‭issue‬ ‭whether‬ ‭the‬ ‭representation‬ ‭and‬
‭transportation‬‭allowances‬‭formed‬‭part‬‭of‬‭salary‬‭as‬‭to‬‭be‬‭considered‬‭in‬‭the‬‭computation‬‭of‬‭retirement‬‭benefits.‬
‭The‬‭ruling‬‭was‬‭in‬‭the‬‭negative‬‭on‬‭the‬‭main‬‭ground‬‭that‬‭the‬‭retirement‬‭plan‬‭of‬‭the‬‭company‬‭expressly‬‭excluded‬
‭such allowances from salary.‬

‭ HEREFORE,‬ ‭the‬ ‭petition‬ ‭is‬ ‭DISMISSED.‬ ‭The‬ ‭resolution‬ ‭of‬ ‭public‬ ‭respondent‬ ‭National‬ ‭Labor‬ ‭Relations‬
W
‭Commission‬ ‭dated‬ ‭7‬ ‭October‬‭1994‬‭holding‬‭that‬‭the‬‭Staff/Manager’s,‬‭transportation‬‭and‬‭Bislig‬‭allowances‬‭did‬
‭not‬‭form‬‭part‬‭of‬‭the‬‭salary‬‭base‬‭used‬‭in‬‭computing‬‭the‬‭separation‬‭pay‬‭of‬‭petitioners‬‭,‬‭as‬‭well‬‭as‬‭its‬‭resolution‬
‭dated 26 September 1995 denying reconsideration, is AFFIRMED. No costs.‬
‭Cases in line with Art. 100‬
‭American Wire Union vs. American Wire (GR 155059)‬

‭ acts:‬ ‭American‬ ‭Wire‬ ‭and‬ ‭Cable‬ ‭Co.,‬ ‭Inc.,‬ ‭is‬ ‭a‬‭corporation‬‭engaged‬‭in‬‭the‬‭manufacture‬‭of‬‭wires‬‭and‬‭cables.‬


F
‭There‬ ‭are‬ ‭two‬ ‭unions‬ ‭in‬ ‭this‬ ‭company,‬ ‭the‬ ‭American‬ ‭Wire‬ ‭and‬ ‭Cable‬ ‭Monthly-Rated‬ ‭Employees‬ ‭Union‬
‭(Monthly-Rated Union) and the American Wire and Cable Daily-Rated Employees Union (Daily-Rated Union).‬
‭On‬ ‭16‬ ‭February‬ ‭2001,‬ ‭an‬ ‭original‬ ‭action‬ ‭was‬ ‭filed‬ ‭before‬ ‭the‬ ‭NCMB‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭Department‬ ‭of‬ ‭Labor‬ ‭and‬
‭Employment.‬‭They‬‭alleged‬‭that‬‭the‬‭private‬‭respondent,‬‭without‬‭valid‬‭cause,‬‭suddenly‬‭and‬‭unilaterally‬‭withdrew‬
‭and denied certain benefits and entitlements which they have long enjoyed. These are the ff:‬
‭a. Service Award;‬
‭b.‬‭35%‬‭premium‬‭pay‬‭of‬‭an‬‭employee’s‬‭basic‬‭pay‬‭for‬‭the‬‭work‬‭rendered‬‭during‬‭Holy‬‭Monday,‬‭Holy‬‭Tuesday,‬‭Holy‬
‭Wednesday, December 23, 26, 27, 28 and 29;‬
‭c. Christmas Party; and‬
‭d. Promotional Increase.‬

‭ ‬‭promotional‬‭increase‬‭was‬‭asked‬‭by‬‭the‬‭petitioner‬‭for‬‭fifteen‬‭(15)‬‭of‬‭its‬‭members‬‭who‬‭were‬‭given‬‭or‬‭assigned‬
A
‭new‬ ‭job‬ ‭classifications.‬ ‭According‬ ‭to‬ ‭petitioner,‬ ‭the‬ ‭new‬ ‭job‬ ‭classifications‬ ‭were‬ ‭in‬‭the‬‭nature‬‭of‬‭a‬‭promotion,‬
‭necessitating the grant of an increase in the salaries of the said 15 members.‬

‭ ‬‭motion‬‭for‬‭reconsideration‬‭was‬‭filed‬‭by‬‭both‬‭unions‬‭where‬‭they‬‭alleged‬‭that‬‭the‬‭Voluntary‬‭Arbitrator‬‭manifestly‬
A
‭erred‬‭in‬‭finding‬‭that‬‭the‬‭company‬‭did‬‭not‬‭violate‬‭Article‬‭100‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Labor‬‭Code,‬‭as‬‭amended,‬‭when‬‭it‬‭unilaterally‬
‭withdrew‬ ‭the‬ ‭subject‬‭benefits,‬‭and‬‭when‬‭no‬‭promotional‬‭increase‬‭was‬‭granted‬‭to‬‭the‬‭affected‬‭employees.‬‭The‬
‭motion‬ ‭for‬ ‭reconsideration‬ ‭is‬ ‭hereby‬ ‭DENIED‬ ‭for‬ ‭lack‬ ‭of‬ ‭merit.‬ ‭Dissatisfied‬ ‭with‬ ‭the‬ ‭court‬ ‭a‬ ‭quo’s‬ ‭ruling,‬
‭petitioner instituted the instant special civil action for certiorari.‬

I‭SSUE:‬ ‭Whether‬ ‭or‬ ‭not‬ ‭a‬ ‭private‬ ‭respondent‬‭is‬‭guilty‬‭of‬‭violating‬‭Article‬‭100‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Labor‬‭Code,‬‭as‬‭amended,‬


‭when the benefits/entitlements given to the members of petitioner union were withdrawn.‬

‭ ULING:‬‭The‬‭Supreme‬‭Court‬‭may‬‭brush‬‭aside‬‭the‬‭procedural‬‭barrier‬‭and‬‭take‬‭cognizance‬‭of‬‭the‬‭petition‬‭as‬‭it‬
R
‭raises an issue of paramount importance.‬

‭ rticle‬ ‭100‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭Labor‬‭Code‬‭provides:‬‭ART.‬‭100.‬‭PROHIBITION‬‭AGAINST‬‭ELIMINATION‬‭OR‬‭DIMINUTION‬


A
‭OF‬ ‭BENEFITS.‬ ‭–‬ ‭Nothing‬ ‭in‬ ‭this‬ ‭Book‬ ‭shall‬ ‭be‬ ‭construed‬ ‭to‬ ‭eliminate‬ ‭or‬ ‭in‬ ‭any‬ ‭way‬ ‭diminish‬
‭supplements, or other employee benefits being enjoyed at the time of promulgation of this Code.‬

‭ he‬‭petitioner‬‭submits‬‭that‬‭the‬‭withdrawal‬‭of‬‭the‬‭private‬‭respondent‬‭of‬‭the‬‭benefits‬‭such‬‭as‬‭35%‬‭premium‬‭pay‬
T
‭for‬ ‭selected‬ ‭days‬ ‭during‬ ‭the‬ ‭Holy‬ ‭Week‬ ‭and‬ ‭Christmas‬ ‭season,‬ ‭the‬ ‭holding‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭Christmas‬ ‭Party‬ ‭and‬ ‭its‬
‭incidental‬‭benefits,‬‭and‬‭the‬‭giving‬‭of‬‭service‬‭awards‬‭violated‬‭Article‬‭100‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Labor‬‭Code.‬‭The‬‭grant‬‭of‬‭these‬
‭benefits‬‭was‬‭a‬‭customary‬‭practice‬‭that‬‭can‬‭no‬‭longer‬‭be‬‭unilaterally‬‭withdrawn‬‭by‬‭private‬‭respondent‬‭without‬‭the‬
‭tacit‬ ‭consent‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭petitioner.‬ ‭The‬ ‭benefits‬ ‭in‬ ‭question‬ ‭were‬ ‭given‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭respondent‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭petitioner‬
‭consistently,‬ ‭deliberately,‬ ‭and‬ ‭unconditionally‬‭since‬‭time‬‭immemorial.‬‭The‬‭benefits/entitlements‬‭were‬‭not‬‭given‬
‭to‬‭petitioner‬‭due‬‭to‬‭an‬‭error‬‭in‬‭interpretation,‬‭or‬‭a‬‭construction‬‭of‬‭a‬‭difficult‬‭question‬‭of‬‭law,‬‭but‬‭simply,‬‭the‬‭grant‬
‭has‬ ‭been‬ ‭a‬ ‭practice‬ ‭over‬ ‭a‬ ‭long‬ ‭period‬ ‭of‬ ‭time.‬ ‭As‬ ‭such,‬ ‭it‬ ‭cannot‬ ‭be‬ ‭withdrawn‬ ‭from‬ ‭the‬ ‭petitioner‬ ‭at‬
‭respondent’s‬ ‭whim‬ ‭and‬ ‭caprice,‬ ‭and‬ ‭without‬ ‭the‬ ‭consent‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭former.‬‭The‬‭benefits‬‭given‬‭by‬‭the‬‭respondent‬
‭cannot‬‭be‬‭considered‬‭as‬‭a‬‭"bonus"‬‭as‬‭they‬‭are‬‭not‬‭founded‬‭on‬‭profit.‬‭Even‬‭assuming‬‭that‬‭it‬‭can‬‭be‬‭treated‬‭as‬‭a‬
‭"bonus,"‬‭the‬‭grant‬‭of‬‭the‬‭same,‬‭by‬‭reason‬‭of‬‭its‬‭long‬‭and‬‭regular‬‭concession,‬‭may‬‭be‬‭regarded‬‭as‬‭part‬‭of‬‭regular‬
‭compensation.‬

‭ ith‬ ‭respect‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭fifteen‬ ‭(15)‬ ‭employees‬ ‭who‬ ‭are‬ ‭members‬ ‭of‬ ‭petitioner‬ ‭union‬ ‭that‬ ‭were‬ ‭given‬ ‭new‬ ‭job‬
W
‭classifications Salary adjustment is a must due to their promotion.‬

‭ n‬ ‭the‬ ‭matter‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭withdrawal‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭service‬ ‭award,‬‭the‬‭petitioner‬‭argues‬‭that‬‭it‬‭is‬‭the‬‭employee’s‬‭length‬‭of‬


O
‭service‬ ‭which‬ ‭is‬ ‭taken‬ ‭as‬ ‭a‬ ‭factor‬ ‭in‬‭the‬‭grant‬‭of‬‭this‬‭benefit,‬‭and‬‭not‬‭whether‬‭the‬‭company‬‭acquired‬‭profit‬‭or‬
‭not.‬‭In‬‭answer‬‭to‬‭all‬‭these,‬‭the‬‭respondent‬‭corporation‬‭avers‬‭that‬‭the‬‭grant‬‭of‬‭all‬‭subject‬‭benefits‬‭has‬‭not‬
‭ripened‬‭into‬‭practice‬‭so‬‭that‬‭the‬‭employees‬‭concerned‬‭can‬‭claim‬‭a‬‭demandable‬‭right‬‭over‬‭them‬‭.‬‭The‬‭grant‬‭of‬
‭these‬ ‭benefits‬ ‭was‬ ‭conditional‬ ‭based‬ ‭upon‬ ‭the‬ ‭financial‬ ‭performance‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭company‬ ‭and‬ ‭that‬
‭conditions/circumstances‬ ‭that‬ ‭existed‬‭before‬‭have‬‭indeed‬‭substantially‬‭changed‬‭thereby‬‭justifying‬‭the‬
‭discontinuance‬ ‭of‬ ‭said‬ ‭grants.‬ ‭The‬ ‭company’s‬ ‭financial‬ ‭performance‬ ‭was‬ ‭affected‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭recent‬ ‭political‬
‭turmoil‬‭and‬‭instability‬‭that‬‭led‬‭the‬‭entire‬‭nation‬‭to‬‭a‬‭bleeding‬‭economy.‬‭Hence,‬‭it‬‭only‬‭necessarily‬‭follows‬‭that‬‭the‬
‭company’s financial situation at present is already very much different from where it was three or four years ago.‬

‭ he‬ ‭respondent‬ ‭company‬ ‭likewise‬ ‭asseverates‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬ ‭15‬ ‭members‬ ‭of‬ ‭petitioner‬ ‭union‬ ‭were‬ ‭not‬
T
‭actually promoted. There was only a realignment of positions.‬

‭ etermination‬‭must‬‭be‬‭first‬‭made‬‭on‬‭whether‬‭the‬‭benefits/entitlements‬‭are‬‭in‬‭the‬‭nature‬‭of‬‭a‬‭bonus‬‭or‬‭not,‬
D
‭and assuming they are so, whether they are demandable and enforceable obligations.‬

‭ ‬ ‭bonus‬ ‭is‬ ‭an‬ ‭amount‬ ‭granted‬ ‭and‬ ‭paid‬ ‭to‬ ‭an‬ ‭employee‬ ‭for‬ ‭his‬ ‭industry‬ ‭and‬ ‭loyalty‬‭which‬‭contributed‬‭to‬‭the‬
A
‭success‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭employer’s‬ ‭business‬ ‭and‬ ‭made‬ ‭possible‬ ‭the‬ ‭realization‬ ‭of‬ ‭profits.‬ ‭It‬ ‭is‬ ‭an‬ ‭act‬ ‭of‬ ‭generosity‬
‭granted‬‭by‬‭an‬‭enlightened‬‭employer‬‭to‬‭spur‬‭the‬‭employee‬‭to‬‭greater‬‭efforts‬‭for‬‭the‬‭success‬‭of‬‭the‬‭business‬‭and‬
r‭ ealization‬‭of‬‭bigger‬‭profits.‬‭T‭h ‬ e‬‭granting‬‭of‬‭a‬‭bonus‬‭is‬‭a‬‭management‬‭prerogative.‬‭Based‬‭on‬‭the‬‭foregoing‬
‭pronouncement,‬‭it‬‭is‬‭obvious‬‭that‬‭the‬‭benefits/entitlements‬‭subjects‬‭of‬‭the‬‭instant‬‭case‬‭are‬‭all‬‭bonuses‬‭which‬
‭were‬ ‭given‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬‭private‬‭respondent‬‭out‬‭of‬‭its‬‭generosity‬‭and‬‭munificence.‬‭The‬‭additional‬‭35%‬‭premium‬
‭pay‬ ‭are‬ ‭all‬‭in‬‭excess‬‭of‬‭what‬‭the‬‭law‬‭requires‬‭each‬‭employer‬‭to‬‭give‬‭its‬‭employees.‬‭The‬‭granting‬‭of‬‭the‬‭same‬
‭was‬‭a‬‭management‬‭prerogative,‬‭which,‬‭whenever‬‭management‬‭sees‬‭necessary,‬‭may‬‭be‬‭withdrawn,‬‭unless‬
‭they have been made a part of the wage or salary or compensation of the employees.‬

‭ an‬‭these‬‭bonuses‬‭be‬‭considered‬‭part‬‭of‬‭the‬‭wage‬‭or‬‭salary‬‭or‬‭compensation‬‭making‬‭them‬‭enforceable‬
C
‭obligations? NO. The Court does not believe so.‬

‭ or‬ ‭a‬‭bonus‬‭to‬‭be‬‭enforceable,‬‭it‬‭must‬‭have‬‭been‬‭promised‬‭by‬‭the‬‭employer‬‭and‬‭expressly‬‭agreed‬‭upon‬
F
‭by‬‭the‬‭parties‬‭,‬‭or‬‭it‬‭must‬‭have‬‭had‬‭a‬‭fixed‬‭amoun1‬‭and‬‭had‬‭been‬‭a‬‭long‬‭and‬‭regular‬‭practice‬‭on‬‭the‬‭part‬
‭of the employer.‬

‭ he‬‭benefits/entitlements‬‭in‬‭question‬‭were‬‭never‬‭subjects‬‭of‬‭any‬‭express‬‭agreement‬‭between‬‭the‬‭parties.‬‭They‬
T
‭were never incorporated in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).‬

‭ he‬ ‭Christmas‬ ‭parties‬ ‭and‬ ‭its‬ ‭incidental‬ ‭benefits,‬ ‭and‬ ‭the‬ ‭giving‬ ‭of‬ ‭cash‬ ‭incentive‬ ‭together‬ ‭with‬ ‭the‬ ‭service‬
T
‭award‬ ‭cannot‬ ‭be‬ ‭said‬ ‭to‬ ‭have‬ ‭fixed‬ ‭amounts.‬ ‭the‬ ‭grant‬ ‭of‬ ‭these‬ ‭two‬ ‭aforementioned‬ ‭bonuses‬ ‭cannot‬ ‭be‬
‭considered‬ ‭to‬ ‭have‬ ‭been‬ ‭the‬ ‭private‬ ‭respondent’s‬ ‭long‬ ‭and‬ ‭regular‬ ‭practice.‬ ‭To‬ ‭be‬ ‭considered‬ ‭a‬ ‭"regular‬
‭practice,"‬‭the‬‭giving‬‭of‬‭the‬‭bonus‬‭should‬‭have‬‭been‬‭done‬‭over‬‭a‬‭long‬‭period‬‭of‬‭time,‬‭and‬‭must‬‭be‬‭shown‬‭to‬‭have‬
‭been‬‭consistent‬‭and‬‭deliberate.The‬‭downtrend‬‭in‬‭the‬‭grant‬‭of‬‭these‬‭two‬‭bonuses‬‭over‬‭the‬‭years‬‭demonstrates‬
‭that‬ ‭there‬ ‭is‬ ‭nothing‬ ‭consistent‬ ‭about‬ ‭it.‬ ‭We‬ ‭agree‬ ‭with‬ ‭the‬ ‭Voluntary‬ ‭Arbitrator‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬ ‭same‬ ‭was‬ ‭merely‬
‭sponsored‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭respondent‬ ‭corporation‬ ‭out‬ ‭of‬ ‭generosity‬ ‭and‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬ ‭same‬ ‭is‬ ‭dependent‬ ‭on‬ ‭the‬ ‭financial‬
‭performance of the company for a particular year‬

‭ 5%‬ ‭premium‬ ‭pay‬ ‭was‬ ‭deliberately‬ ‭given‬ ‭and‬ ‭the‬ ‭same‬ ‭was‬ ‭in‬‭excess‬‭of‬‭that‬‭provided‬‭by‬‭the‬‭law,‬‭the‬‭same‬
3
‭however‬‭did‬‭not‬‭ripen‬‭into‬‭a‬‭company‬‭practice‬‭on‬‭account‬‭of‬‭the‬‭fact‬‭that‬‭it‬‭was‬‭only‬‭granted‬‭for‬‭two‬‭(2)‬‭years‬
‭and‬‭with‬‭the‬‭express‬‭reservation‬‭from‬‭respondent‬‭corporation’s‬‭owner‬‭that‬‭it‬‭cannot‬‭continue‬‭to‬‭rant‬‭the‬‭same‬‭in‬
‭view of the company’s current financial situation.‬
‭To‬‭hold‬‭that‬‭an‬‭employer‬‭should‬‭be‬‭forced‬‭to‬‭distribute‬‭bonuses‬‭which‬‭it‬‭granted‬‭out‬‭of‬‭kindness‬‭is‬‭to‬
‭penalize him for his past generosity.‬
‭The‬ ‭grant‬ ‭of‬ ‭cash‬ ‭incentive‬ ‭together‬ ‭with‬ ‭the‬ ‭service‬ ‭award‬ ‭are‬ ‭all‬ ‭bonuses‬ ‭which‬ ‭are‬ ‭neither‬
‭demandable nor enforceable obligations of the private respondent‬‭.‬

‭ n‬‭the‬‭alleged‬‭promotion‬‭of‬‭15‬‭members‬‭of‬‭the‬‭petitioner‬‭union‬‭that‬‭should‬‭warrant‬‭an‬‭increase‬‭in‬‭their‬‭salaries,‬
O
‭Considering‬‭that‬‭the‬‭Union‬‭was‬‭unable‬‭to‬‭adduce‬‭proof‬‭that‬‭a‬‭promotion‬‭indeed‬‭occur[ed]‬‭with‬‭respect‬‭to‬‭the‬‭15‬
‭employees,‬ ‭the‬ ‭Daily‬ ‭Rated‬ ‭Union’s‬ ‭claim‬ ‭for‬ ‭promotional‬ ‭increase‬ ‭likewise‬ ‭fall[s]‬ ‭there‬ ‭being‬ ‭no‬ ‭promotion‬
‭established under the records at hand.‬

‭Lepanto Ceramics Inc. (GR 180866)‬

‭ ACTS:‬ ‭Petitioner‬ ‭Lepanto‬ ‭Ceramics,‬ ‭Incorporated‬ ‭is‬ ‭a‬‭duly‬‭organized‬‭corporation‬‭existing‬‭and‬‭operating‬‭by‬


F
‭virtue‬ ‭of‬ ‭Philippine‬ ‭Laws.‬ ‭Its‬ ‭business‬ ‭is‬ ‭primarily‬‭to‬‭manufacture,‬‭make,‬‭buy‬‭and‬‭sell,‬‭on‬‭a‬‭wholesale‬‭basis,‬
‭among‬ ‭others,‬ ‭tiles,‬ ‭marbles,‬ ‭mosaics‬ ‭and‬‭other‬‭similar‬‭products.‬‭Respondent‬‭Lepanto‬‭Ceramics‬‭Employees‬
‭Association‬ ‭(respondent‬ ‭Association)‬‭is‬‭a‬‭legitimate‬‭labor‬‭organization‬‭duly‬‭registered‬‭with‬‭the‬‭Department‬‭of‬
‭Labor and Employment. It is the sole and exclusive bargaining agent in the establishment of petitioners.‬

I‭n‬ ‭December‬ ‭1998,‬ ‭petitioner‬ ‭gave‬ ‭a‬ ‭₱3,000.00‬ ‭bonus‬ ‭to‬ ‭its‬ ‭employees‬‭,in‬ ‭September‬ ‭1999,‬ ‭petitioner‬ ‭and‬
‭respondent‬ ‭Association‬ ‭entered‬ ‭into‬ ‭a‬ ‭Collective‬ ‭Bargaining‬ ‭Agreement‬ ‭(CBA‬‭)‬ ‭which‬ ‭provides‬ ‭for,‬ ‭among‬
‭others,‬ ‭the‬ ‭grant‬ ‭of‬ ‭a‬ ‭Christmas‬ ‭gift‬ ‭package/bonus‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭members‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭respondent‬ ‭Association.‬ ‭The‬
‭Christmas‬ ‭bonus‬ ‭was‬ ‭one‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭enumerated‬ ‭"existing‬ ‭benefits,‬ ‭practice‬ ‭of‬ ‭traditional‬ ‭rights"‬ ‭which‬ ‭"shall‬
‭remain in full force and effect."‬

I‭n‬‭the‬‭succeeding‬‭years,‬‭1999,‬‭2000‬‭and‬‭2001,‬‭the‬‭bonus‬‭was‬‭not‬‭in‬‭cash.‬‭Instead,‬‭petitioner‬‭gave‬‭each‬‭of‬‭the‬
‭members‬ ‭of‬ ‭respondent‬ ‭Association‬ ‭Tile‬ ‭Redemption‬ ‭Certificates‬ ‭equivalent‬‭to‬‭₱3,000.00.‬‭The‬‭bonus‬‭for‬‭the‬
‭year‬ ‭2002‬ ‭is‬ ‭the‬ ‭root‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭present‬ ‭dispute.‬ ‭Petitioner‬ ‭gave‬ ‭a‬ ‭year-end‬ ‭cash‬ ‭benefit‬ ‭of‬ ‭Six‬ ‭Hundred‬‭Pesos‬
‭(₱600.00)‬ ‭and‬‭offered‬‭a‬‭cash‬‭advance‬‭to‬‭interested‬‭employees‬‭equivalent‬‭to‬‭one‬‭(1)‬‭month‬‭salary‬‭payable‬‭in‬
‭one‬‭year.‬‭Respondent‬‭Association‬‭objected‬‭to‬‭the‬‭₱600.00‬‭cash‬‭benefit‬‭and‬‭argued‬‭that‬‭this‬‭was‬‭in‬‭violation‬‭of‬
‭the CBA it executed with the petitioner.‬

‭ espondent‬ ‭Association‬‭insisted‬‭that‬‭it‬‭has‬‭been‬‭the‬‭traditional‬‭practice‬‭of‬‭the‬‭company‬‭to‬‭grant‬‭its‬‭members‬
R
‭Christmas‬‭bonuses‬‭during‬‭the‬‭end‬‭of‬‭the‬‭calendar‬‭year,‬‭each‬‭in‬‭the‬‭amount‬‭of‬‭₱3,000.00‬‭as‬‭an‬‭expression‬‭of‬
‭gratitude‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭employees‬ ‭for‬ ‭their‬ ‭participation‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭company’s‬ ‭continued‬ ‭existence‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭market.‬ ‭The‬
‭bonus‬‭was‬‭either‬‭in‬‭cash‬‭or‬‭in‬‭the‬‭form‬‭of‬‭company‬‭tiles.‬‭In‬‭2002,‬‭in‬‭a‬‭speech‬‭during‬‭the‬‭Christmas‬‭celebration,‬
‭one‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭company’s‬ ‭top‬ ‭executives‬‭assured‬‭the‬‭employees‬‭of‬‭said‬‭bonus.‬‭However,‬‭the‬‭Human‬‭Resources‬
‭Development‬‭Manager‬‭informed‬‭them‬‭that‬‭the‬‭traditional‬‭bonus‬‭would‬‭not‬‭be‬‭given‬‭as‬‭the‬‭company’s‬‭earnings‬
‭were‬ ‭intended‬ ‭for‬ ‭the‬ ‭payment‬ ‭of‬ ‭its‬‭bank‬‭loans.‬‭Respondent‬‭Association‬‭argued‬‭that‬‭this‬‭was‬‭in‬‭violation‬‭of‬
‭their CBA.‬
‭ etitioner‬ ‭averred‬‭that‬‭the‬‭complaint‬‭for‬‭nonpayment‬‭of‬‭the‬‭2002‬‭Christmas‬‭bonus‬‭had‬‭no‬‭basis‬‭as‬‭the‬‭same‬
P
‭was‬‭not‬‭a‬‭demandable‬‭and‬‭enforceable‬‭obligation.‬‭It‬‭argued‬‭that‬‭the‬‭giving‬‭of‬‭extra‬‭compensation‬‭was‬‭based‬
‭on‬ ‭the‬ ‭company’s‬ ‭available‬ ‭resources‬ ‭for‬ ‭a‬ ‭given‬ ‭year‬ ‭and‬ ‭the‬ ‭workers‬ ‭are‬ ‭not‬ ‭entitled‬ ‭to‬ ‭a‬ ‭bonus‬ ‭if‬ ‭the‬
‭company does not make profits.‬

‭ etitioner‬‭also‬‭averred‬‭that‬‭the‬‭CBA‬‭provision‬‭on‬‭a‬‭"Christmas‬‭gift/bonus"‬‭refers‬‭to‬‭alternative‬‭benefits.‬‭Finally,‬
P
‭petitioner‬ ‭emphasized‬ ‭that‬ ‭even‬ ‭if‬ ‭the‬ ‭CBA‬ ‭contained‬ ‭an‬ ‭unconditional‬ ‭obligation‬ ‭to‬ ‭grant‬ ‭the‬ ‭bonus‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬
‭respondent‬‭Association,‬‭the‬‭present‬‭difficult‬‭economic‬‭times‬‭had‬‭already‬‭legally‬‭released‬‭it‬‭therefrom‬‭pursuant‬
‭to Article 1267 of the Civil Code.‬

‭ he‬‭Voluntary‬‭Arbitrator‬‭rendered‬‭a‬‭Decision‬‭dated‬‭2‬‭June‬‭2003,‬‭declaring‬‭that‬‭petitioner‬‭is‬‭bound‬‭to‬‭grant‬
T
‭each‬ ‭of‬ ‭its‬ ‭workers‬ ‭a‬ ‭Christmas‬ ‭bonus‬ ‭of‬ ‭₱3,000.00‬ ‭for‬ ‭the‬ ‭reason‬‭that‬‭the‬‭bonus‬‭was‬‭given‬‭prior‬‭to‬‭the‬
‭effectivity‬‭of‬‭the‬‭CBA‬‭between‬‭the‬‭parties‬‭and‬‭that‬‭the‬‭financial‬‭losses‬‭of‬‭the‬‭company‬‭is‬‭not‬‭a‬‭sufficient‬‭reason‬
‭to‬‭exempt‬‭it‬‭from‬‭granting‬‭the‬‭same.‬‭It‬‭stressed‬‭that‬‭the‬‭CBA‬‭is‬‭a‬‭binding‬‭contract‬‭and‬‭constitutes‬‭the‬‭law‬
‭between the parties.‬
‭Petitioner elevated the case to the Court of Appeals‬

I‭n‬‭the‬‭case‬‭at‬‭bar,‬‭it‬‭is‬‭indubitable‬‭that‬‭petitioner‬‭offered‬‭private‬‭respondent‬‭a‬‭Christmas‬‭bonus/gift‬‭in‬‭1998‬‭or‬
‭before‬ ‭the‬ ‭execution‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭1999‬ ‭CBA‬ ‭which‬ ‭incorporated‬ ‭the‬ ‭said‬ ‭benefit‬ ‭as‬ ‭a‬ ‭traditional‬ ‭right‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬
‭employees.‬‭Hence,‬‭the‬‭grant‬‭of‬‭said‬‭bonus‬‭to‬‭private‬‭respondent‬‭can‬‭be‬‭deemed‬‭a‬‭practice‬‭as‬‭the‬‭same‬‭has‬
‭not‬ ‭been‬ ‭given‬‭only‬‭in‬‭the‬‭1999‬‭CBA.‬‭Apparently,‬‭this‬‭is‬‭the‬‭reason‬‭why‬‭petitioner‬‭specifically‬‭recognized‬‭the‬
‭grant of a Christmas bonus/gift as a practice or tradition as stated in the CBA‬

‭ he‬‭argument‬‭of‬‭petitioner‬‭that‬‭the‬‭giving‬‭of‬‭a‬‭Christmas‬‭bonus‬‭is‬‭a‬‭management‬‭prerogative‬‭holds‬‭no‬‭water‬‭.‬
T
‭There‬‭were‬‭no‬‭conditions‬‭specified‬‭in‬‭the‬‭CBA‬‭for‬‭the‬‭grant‬‭of‬‭said‬‭benefit‬‭contrary‬‭to‬‭the‬‭claim‬‭of‬‭petitioner‬
‭that‬‭the‬‭same‬‭is‬‭justified‬‭only‬‭when‬‭there‬‭are‬‭profits‬‭earned‬‭by‬‭the‬‭company.‬‭As‬‭can‬‭be‬‭gleaned‬‭from‬‭the‬‭CBA,‬
‭the‬‭payment‬‭of‬‭Christmas‬‭bonus‬‭was‬‭not‬‭contingent‬‭upon‬‭the‬‭realization‬‭of‬‭profits.‬‭It‬‭does‬‭not‬‭state‬‭that‬‭if‬‭the‬
‭company‬ ‭derives‬ ‭no‬ ‭profits,‬ ‭there‬‭are‬‭no‬‭bonuses‬‭to‬‭be‬‭given‬‭to‬‭the‬‭employees.‬‭In‬‭fine,‬‭the‬‭payment‬‭thereof‬
‭was not related to the profitability of business operations.‬

‭ISSUE:‬‭W/N petitioner is bound to grant each of its workers a Christmas bonus of ₱3,000.00‬

‭ ULING:‬‭YES.‬
R
‭CA upholds the rulings.‬
‭By‬ ‭definition,‬ ‭a‬‭"bonus"‬‭is‬‭a‬‭gratuity‬‭or‬‭act‬‭of‬‭liberality‬‭of‬‭the‬‭giver.‬‭It‬‭is‬‭something‬‭given‬‭in‬‭addition‬‭to‬‭what‬‭is‬
‭ordinarily‬‭received‬‭by‬‭or‬‭strictly‬‭due‬‭the‬‭recipient.‬‭A‬‭bonus‬‭is‬‭granted‬‭and‬‭paid‬‭to‬‭an‬‭employee‬‭for‬‭his‬‭industry‬
‭and‬ ‭loyalty‬ ‭which‬ ‭contributed‬ ‭to‬‭the‬‭success‬‭of‬‭the‬‭employer’s‬‭business‬‭and‬‭made‬‭possible‬‭the‬‭realization‬‭of‬
‭profits.‬ ‭A‬ ‭bonus‬ ‭is‬ ‭also‬ ‭granted‬ ‭by‬ ‭an‬ ‭enlightened‬ ‭employer‬ ‭to‬ ‭spur‬ ‭the‬ ‭employee‬ ‭to‬ ‭greater‬ ‭efforts‬ ‭for‬ ‭the‬
‭success of the business and realization of bigger profits.‬
‭Generally,‬‭a‬‭bonus‬‭is‬‭not‬‭a‬‭demandable‬‭and‬‭enforceable‬‭obligation.‬‭For‬‭a‬‭bonus‬‭to‬‭be‬‭enforceable‬‭,‬‭it‬‭must‬
‭have‬‭been‬‭promised‬‭by‬‭the‬‭employer‬‭and‬‭expressly‬‭agreed‬‭upon‬‭by‬‭the‬‭parties.‬‭Given‬‭that‬‭the‬‭bonus‬‭in‬‭this‬
‭case is integrated in the CBA, the same partakes the nature of a demandable obligation.‬

I‭t‬‭is‬‭a‬‭familiar‬‭and‬‭fundamental‬‭doctrine‬‭in‬‭labor‬‭law‬‭that‬‭the‬‭CBA‬‭is‬‭the‬‭law‬‭between‬‭the‬‭parties‬‭and‬‭they‬‭are‬
‭obliged to comply with its provisions.This principle stands strong and true in the case at bar.‬

‭ etitioner‬‭supposedly‬‭continued‬‭to‬‭incur‬‭losses‬‭in‬‭the‬‭years‬‭200029‬‭and‬‭2001.‬‭Still‬‭and‬‭all,‬‭this‬‭did‬‭not‬‭deter‬‭it‬
P
‭from‬‭honoring‬‭the‬‭CBA‬‭provision‬‭on‬‭Christmas‬‭bonus‬‭as‬‭it‬‭continued‬‭to‬‭give‬‭₱3,000.00‬‭each‬‭to‬‭the‬‭members‬‭of‬
‭the respondent Association in the years 1999, 2000 and 2001.‬

‭ ll‬‭given,‬‭business‬‭losses‬‭are‬‭a‬‭feeble‬‭ground‬‭for‬‭petitioner‬‭to‬‭repudiate‬‭its‬‭obligation‬‭under‬‭the‬‭CBA.‬
A
‭The‬‭rule‬‭is‬‭settled‬‭that‬‭any‬‭benefit‬‭and‬‭supplement‬‭being‬‭enjoyed‬‭by‬‭the‬‭employees‬‭cannot‬‭be‬‭reduced,‬
‭diminished,‬‭discontinued‬‭or‬‭eliminated‬‭by‬‭the‬‭employer.‬‭The‬‭principle‬‭of‬‭non-diminution‬‭of‬‭benefits‬‭is‬
‭founded‬‭on‬‭the‬‭constitutional‬‭mandate‬‭to‬‭protect‬‭the‬‭rights‬‭of‬‭workers‬‭and‬‭to‬‭promote‬‭their‬‭welfare‬‭and‬
‭to afford labor full protection‬
‭Art. 100: Notes and Discussion‬

‭Non-Diminution of Benefit when Applicable: (‬‭CUP-E‬‭)‬


‭1.‬ ‭The practice is‬‭C‭o ‬ nsistent and deliberate‬
‭2.‬ ‭The diminution or discontinuance is done‬‭U‭n ‬ ilaterally by the employer‬
‭3.‬ ‭The grant of the benefit is founded on a policy or has ripened into a‬‭P‭r‬ actice for a long period.‬
‭4.‬ ‭The‬ ‭practice‬ ‭is‬ ‭not‬ ‭due‬ ‭to‬ ‭E‭r‬ ror‬ ‭in‬‭the‬‭construction‬‭or‬‭application‬‭od‬‭a‬‭doubtful‬‭or‬‭difficult‬‭question‬‭of‬
‭law‬

‭ onstitutional Basis‬
C
‭Any‬ ‭benefit‬ ‭and‬ ‭supplement‬ ‭being‬ ‭enjoyed‬ ‭by‬ ‭employees‬ ‭cannot‬ ‭be‬ ‭reduced,‬ ‭diminished,‬ ‭discontinued‬ ‭or‬
‭eliminated‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭employer.‬ ‭The‬ ‭principle‬ ‭of‬ ‭non-diminution‬ ‭of‬ ‭benefits‬ ‭is‬ ‭founded‬ ‭on‬ ‭the‬ ‭Constitutional‬
‭mandate to‬‭“protect the rights of workers and promote their welfare” and “to afford labor full protection”‬
‭ hy apply Art. 100 long after promulgation of the Labor Code on May 1 1974?‬
W
‭It‬‭is‬‭intended‬‭to‬‭protect‬‭or‬‭preserve‬‭those‬‭benefits‬‭despite‬‭the‬‭code’s‬‭introduction‬‭of‬‭new‬‭statutory‬‭benefits‬‭and‬
‭imposition‬ ‭of‬ ‭minimum‬ ‭wage.‬ ‭Art.‬ ‭100‬‭refers‬‭solely‬‭to‬‭other‬‭non-diminution‬‭of‬‭benefits‬‭enjoyed‬‭at‬‭the‬‭time‬‭of‬
‭promulgation‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭Labor‬ ‭Code‬‭.‬ ‭Nevertheless‬ ‭,“‬‭mutuality‬ ‭of‬ ‭contract”‬ ‭principle‬ ‭in‬ ‭Article‬ ‭1308‬ ‭of‬‭Civil‬‭Code‬
‭justifies‬ ‭non-diminution‬ ‭of‬ ‭employment‬ ‭benefits.‬ ‭EM-REL‬ ‭is‬ ‭a‬ ‭contractual‬‭relationship‬‭based‬‭on‬‭express‬‭and‬
‭implied terms‬‭(not expressly agreed upon but freely, voluntarily, and consistently extended to employees.‬

‭Exception to the Non-Diminution Rule: (‬‭CoNWaB-ReCop‬‭)‬


‭1.‬ ‭Co‬‭rrection of error‬
‭2.‬ ‭N‭e ‬ gotiated benefits‬
‭3.‬ ‭Wa‬‭ge order compliance‬
‭4.‬ ‭B‭e ‬ nefits on reimbursement basis‬
‭5.‬ ‭Re‬‭classification of position‬
‭6.‬ ‭C‭o ‬ ntingent benefits of conditional bonus‬
‭7.‬ ‭P‭r‬ oductivity incentives‬

‭ orrection of Error‬
C
‭If‬ ‭it‬ ‭is‬ ‭a‬ ‭past‬ ‭error‬ ‭that‬ ‭is‬ ‭being‬ ‭corrected,‬ ‭no‬ ‭vested‬ ‭right‬‭may‬‭be‬‭said‬‭to‬‭have‬‭arisen‬‭nor‬‭any‬‭diminution‬‭of‬
‭benefit under Article 100 of the Labor Code may be said to have resulted by virtue of the correction.‬

‭ egotiated Benefits‬
N
‭Those‬‭contained‬‭in‬‭the‬‭CBA‬‭are‬‭not‬‭within‬‭the‬‭prohibition‬‭of‬‭art.‬‭100‬‭because‬‭as‬‭products‬‭of‬‭bilateral‬‭contract,‬
‭they can only be eliminated or diminished bilaterally. The law forbids modification done unilaterally.‬
‭Wage Order Compliance‬
‭the‬‭giving‬‭of‬‭across-the-board‬‭salary‬‭increases‬‭so‬‭as‬‭to‬‭rectify‬‭a‬‭salary‬‭distortion‬‭caused‬‭by‬‭compliance‬‭with‬‭a‬
‭wage‬ ‭order‬ ‭cannot‬‭be‬‭said‬‭to‬‭have‬‭ripened‬‭into‬‭a‬‭company‬‭practice.‬‭Hence,‬‭if‬‭there‬‭is‬‭no‬‭salary‬‭distortion‬‭to‬
‭cure‬

‭ age Order Compliance‬


W
‭The‬‭giving‬‭of‬‭across-the-board‬‭salary‬‭increases‬‭so‬‭as‬‭to‬‭rectify‬‭a‬‭salary‬‭distortion‬‭caused‬‭by‬‭compliance‬‭with‬‭a‬
‭wage‬ ‭order‬ ‭cannot‬‭be‬‭said‬‭to‬‭have‬‭ripened‬‭into‬‭a‬‭company‬‭practice.‬‭Hence,‬‭if‬‭there‬‭is‬‭no‬‭salary‬‭distortion‬‭to‬
‭cure.‬

‭ enefit on Reimbursement Basis‬


B
‭per‬‭diem‬‭is‬‭a‬‭daily‬‭allowance‬‭given‬‭for‬‭each‬‭day‬‭when‬‭an‬‭officer‬‭or‬‭employee‬‭is‬‭away‬‭from‬‭his‬‭home‬‭base.‬‭It‬‭is‬
‭intended‬‭to‬‭cover‬‭the‬‭cost‬‭of‬‭lodging‬‭and‬‭subsistence‬‭of‬‭officers‬‭and‬‭employees‬‭when‬‭on‬‭duty‬‭outside‬‭of‬‭their‬
‭permanent‬ ‭station.‬ ‭The‬ ‭monthly‬ ‭ration‬ ‭of‬ ‭gasoline‬ ‭given‬ ‭to‬ ‭certain‬ ‭managerial‬ ‭employees‬ ‭is‬ ‭not‬ ‭part‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬
‭employee's basic salary.‬

‭ eclassification of Position; Promotion‬


R
‭Because‬‭of‬‭the‬‭reclassification‬‭the‬‭position‬‭holders‬‭thereby‬‭lose‬‭overtime‬‭pay‬‭and‬‭other‬‭benefits‬‭under‬‭Articles‬
‭82‬ ‭to‬ ‭96,‬ ‭but‬ ‭Article‬ ‭100‬ ‭is‬ ‭not‬ ‭violated.‬ ‭Promotion‬ ‭produces‬ ‭the‬ ‭same‬ ‭effect.‬ ‭But‬ ‭promotion‬ ‭and‬ ‭position‬
‭reclassification must be done in good faith.‬

‭Contingent or Conditional Benefits; Bonus‬


‭ either‬‭does‬‭the‬‭rule‬‭under‬‭Article‬‭100‬‭apply‬‭to‬‭a‬‭benefit‬‭whose‬‭grant‬‭depends‬‭on‬‭the‬‭existence‬‭of‬‭certain‬‭conditions,‬‭so‬
N
‭that the benefit is not demandable if those preconditions are absent.‬
‭if‬‭it‬‭is‬‭an‬‭additional‬‭compensation‬‭which‬‭the‬‭employer‬‭promised‬‭and‬‭agreed‬‭to‬‭give‬‭without‬‭any‬‭conditions‬‭imposed‬‭for‬‭its‬
‭payment,‬‭such‬‭as‬‭success‬‭of‬‭business‬‭or‬‭greater‬‭production‬‭or‬‭output,‬‭then‬‭it‬‭is‬‭part‬‭of‬‭the‬‭wage.‬‭But‬‭if‬‭it‬‭is‬‭paid‬‭only‬‭if‬
‭profits are realized on a certain amount of productivity achieved, it cannot be considered part of the wages.‬

‭ or‬ ‭a‬ ‭bonus‬ ‭to‬ ‭be‬ ‭enforceable‬‭,‬ ‭it‬‭must‬‭have‬‭been‬‭promised‬‭by‬‭the‬‭employer‬‭and‬‭expressly‬‭agreed‬‭by‬‭the‬‭parties,‬‭or‬‭it‬


F
‭must have had a fixed amount and had been a long and regular practice on the part of the employer.‬

‭ quity or Long Practice as Basis of Bonus‬


E
‭Even‬‭if‬‭a‬‭bonus‬‭is‬‭not‬‭demandable‬‭for‬‭not‬‭forming‬‭part‬‭of‬‭the‬‭wage,‬‭salary‬‭or‬‭compensation‬‭of‬‭the‬‭employee,‬
‭the same may nevertheless be granted on equitable considerations.‬

‭ ervices rendered as basis of bonus‬


S
‭Article‬ ‭6‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭Civil‬ ‭Code‬ ‭renders‬ ‭a‬ ‭quitclaim‬ ‭agreement‬ ‭void‬ ‭ab‬ ‭initio‬ ‭where‬ ‭the‬ ‭quitclaim‬ ‭obligates‬ ‭the‬
‭workers‬ ‭concerned‬ ‭to‬ ‭forego‬ ‭their‬ ‭benefits‬ ‭while‬ ‭at‬ ‭the‬ ‭same‬ ‭time‬‭exempting‬‭the‬‭employer‬‭from‬‭any‬‭liability‬
‭that‬‭it‬‭may‬‭choose‬‭to‬‭reject.‬‭This‬‭runs‬‭counter‬‭to‬‭Article‬‭22‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Civil‬‭Code‬‭which‬‭provides‬‭that‬‭no‬‭one‬‭shall‬
‭be unjustly enriched at the expense of another.‬
‭ .D. NO. 851‬‭: THIRTEENTH-MONTH PAY‬
P
‭A‬‭statutory‬‭grant‬‭which‬‭creates‬‭an‬‭imaginary‬‭thirteenth‬‭month‬‭and‬‭obliges‬‭employers‬‭to‬‭pay‬‭the‬‭employees‬‭for‬
‭that imaginary month.‬

‭ .D.‬ ‭No.‬ ‭851,‬ ‭issued‬ ‭during‬ ‭the‬ ‭martial‬ ‭law‬ ‭regime,‬ ‭requires‬ ‭all‬ ‭employers‬ ‭to‬ ‭pay‬ ‭all‬ ‭their‬ ‭rank-and-file‬
P
‭employees‬ ‭receiving‬ ‭a‬ ‭basic‬ ‭salary‬ ‭of‬ ‭not‬ ‭more‬ ‭than‬ ‭PI‬ ‭,000‬ ‭a‬ ‭month,‬ ‭regardless‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭nature‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬
‭employment, a 13th-month pay not later than December 24 of every year.‬

‭ 1000 Salary Ceiling Removed‬


P
‭On‬‭August‬‭13,‬‭1986,‬‭President‬‭Aquino‬‭issued‬‭Memorandum‬‭Order‬‭No.‬‭28‬‭to‬‭remove‬‭the‬‭P1.000‬‭salary‬‭ceiling,‬
‭thus entitling to the 13th-month pay all rank-and-file employees, regardless of salary rate.‬

‭Computation of 13th-Month Pay‬‭;‬


‭"Thirteenth-Month‬ ‭Pay‬ ‭shall‬ ‭mean‬ ‭one-twelfth‬ ‭(1/12‬ ‭)‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭basic‬ ‭salary‬ ‭of‬ ‭an‬ ‭employee‬‭within‬‭a‬‭calendar‬
‭year."‬

‭ hat does "basic salary" include?‬


W
‭"Basic‬ ‭salary‬ ‭shall‬ ‭include‬ ‭all‬ ‭remunerations‬ ‭or‬ ‭earnings‬ ‭paid‬ ‭by‬ ‭an‬ ‭employer‬ ‭to‬ ‭an‬ ‭employee‬ ‭for‬ ‭services‬
‭rendered‬ ‭but‬ ‭may‬ ‭not‬ ‭include‬ ‭cost-of-living‬ ‭allowances‬ ‭granted‬ ‭pursuant‬ ‭to‬ ‭Presidential‬ ‭Decree‬ ‭No.‬ ‭525‬ ‭or‬
‭Letter‬‭of‬‭Instructions‬‭No.‬‭174,‬‭profit-sharing‬‭payments‬‭and‬‭all‬‭allowances‬‭and‬‭monetary‬‭benefits‬‭which‬‭are‬‭not‬
‭considered‬‭or‬‭integrated‬‭as‬‭part‬‭of‬‭the‬‭regular‬‭or‬‭basic‬‭salary‬‭of‬‭the‬‭employee‬‭at‬‭the‬‭time‬‭of‬‭the‬‭promulgation‬
‭of‬‭the‬‭Decree‬‭on‬‭December‬‭16,1975."‬‭overtime‬‭pay‬‭earnings‬‭and‬‭other‬‭remunerations‬‭are‬‭excluded‬‭as‬‭part‬‭of‬
‭the basic salary and in the computation of the 13th-month pay."‬

I‭nclusions by Practice or Agreement‬


‭The‬‭items‬‭excluded‬‭by‬‭the‬‭Decree‬‭may‬‭be‬‭included‬‭through‬‭established‬‭practice‬‭or‬‭agreement‬‭binding‬‭on‬‭the‬
‭employer.‬ ‭We‬ ‭[Supreme‬ ‭Court]‬ ‭have‬ ‭held‬ ‭that‬ ‭this‬ ‭act,‬ ‭which‬ ‭was‬ ‭favorable‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭employees‬ ‭though‬ ‭not‬
‭conforming‬‭to‬‭law,‬‭has‬‭ripened‬‭into‬‭a‬‭practice‬‭and‬‭therefore‬‭can‬‭no‬‭longer‬‭be‬‭withdrawn,‬‭reduced,‬‭diminished,‬
‭discontinued or eliminated.‬

‭ ales‬ ‭commissions,‬ ‭on‬ ‭the‬ ‭other‬ ‭hand,‬ ‭such‬ ‭as‬ ‭those‬ ‭paid‬ ‭in‬ ‭Duplicators,‬ ‭are‬ ‭intimately‬ ‭related‬ ‭or‬ ‭directly‬
S
‭proportional‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭extent‬ ‭or‬ ‭energy‬ ‭of‬ ‭an‬ ‭employee's‬ ‭endeavors.‬ ‭Commissions‬ ‭are‬ ‭paid‬ ‭upon‬ ‭the‬ ‭specific‬
‭results‬‭achieved‬‭by‬‭a‬‭salesman‬‭employee.‬‭It‬‭is‬‭a‬‭percentage‬‭of‬‭the‬‭sales‬‭closed‬‭by‬‭a‬‭salesman‬‭and‬‭operates‬
‭as an integral part of such salesman's basic pay.‬

‭ istressed Employer‬
D
‭The‬‭rules‬‭and‬‭regulations‬‭implementing‬‭Presidential‬‭Decree‬‭No.‬‭851‬‭provide‬‭that‬‭a‬‭distressed‬‭employer‬‭shall‬
‭qualify‬ ‭for‬ ‭exemption‬ ‭from‬ ‭the‬ ‭requirement‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭decree‬‭only‬‭upon‬‭prior‬‭authorization‬‭from‬‭the‬‭Secretary‬‭of‬
‭Labor and Employment.‬

‭ on Strikeable‬
N
‭Difference‬‭of‬‭opinion‬‭on‬‭how‬‭to‬‭compute‬‭the‬‭13th-month‬‭pay‬‭does‬‭not‬‭justify‬‭a‬‭strike;‬‭in‬‭other‬‭words,‬‭it‬‭is‬‭a‬‭non‬
‭strikeable issue and a strike held on that ground is illegal.‬

‭MATERNITY LEAVE UNDER SSS LAW‬

‭ EPUBLIC ACT No. 1161: Social Security Law‬


R
‭ ection‬ ‭14-A.‬ ‭Maternity‬ ‭Leave‬ ‭Benefit.‬ ‭—‬ ‭A‬ ‭covered‬ ‭female‬ ‭employee‬ ‭who‬ ‭has‬ ‭paid‬ ‭at‬ ‭least‬ ‭three‬ ‭monthly‬ ‭maternity‬
S
c‭ ontributions‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭twelve-month‬ ‭period‬ ‭preceding‬ ‭the‬ ‭semester‬ ‭of‬ ‭her‬ ‭childbirth,‬ ‭abortion,‬ ‭or‬ ‭miscarriage‬ ‭and‬ ‭who‬ ‭is‬ ‭currently‬
‭employed‬‭shall‬‭be‬‭paid‬‭a‬‭daily‬‭maternity‬‭benefit‬‭equivalent‬‭to‬‭one‬‭hundred‬‭per‬‭cent‬‭of‬‭her‬‭present‬‭basic‬‭salary,‬‭allowances‬‭and‬‭other‬
‭benefits or the cash equivalents of such benefits for sixty days subject to the following conditions:‬
(‭ a)‬‭That‬‭the‬‭employee‬‭shall‬‭have‬‭notified‬‭her‬‭employer‬‭of‬‭her‬‭pregnancy‬‭and‬‭the‬‭probable‬‭date‬‭of‬‭her‬‭childbirth‬‭which‬‭notice‬‭shall‬‭be‬
‭transmitted to the SSS in accordance with the rules and regulations it may provide;‬
(‭ b)‬‭That‬‭the‬‭payment‬‭shall‬‭be‬‭advanced‬‭by‬‭the‬‭employer‬‭in‬‭two‬‭equal‬‭installments‬‭within‬‭thirty‬‭days‬‭from‬‭the‬‭filing‬‭of‬‭the‬‭maternity‬
‭leave application;‬
‭(c) That in case of caesarian delivery, the employees shall be paid the daily maternity benefit for seventy-eight days;‬
(‭ d)‬ ‭That‬ ‭payment‬ ‭of‬ ‭daily‬ ‭maternity‬ ‭benefits‬ ‭shall‬ ‭be‬‭a‬‭bar‬‭to‬‭the‬‭recovery‬‭of‬‭sickness‬‭benefits‬‭provided‬‭by‬‭this‬‭Act‬‭for‬‭the‬‭same‬
‭compensable period of sixty days for the same childbirth, abortion, or miscarriage;‬
‭(e) That the maternity benefits provided under this section shall be paid only for the first four deliveries after March 13, 1973;‬
(‭ f)‬‭That‬‭the‬‭SSS‬‭shall‬‭immediately‬‭reimburse‬‭the‬‭employer‬‭of‬‭one‬‭hundred‬‭per‬‭cent‬‭of‬‭the‬‭amount‬‭of‬‭maternity‬‭benefits‬‭advanced‬‭to‬
‭the employee by the employer upon receipt of satisfactory proof of such payment and legality thereof; and‬
(‭ g)‬‭That‬‭if‬‭an‬‭employee‬‭should‬‭give‬‭birth‬‭or‬‭suffer‬‭abortion‬‭or‬‭miscarriage‬‭without‬‭the‬‭required‬‭contributions‬‭having‬‭been‬‭remitted‬‭for‬
‭her‬‭by‬‭her‬‭employer‬‭to‬‭the‬‭SSS,‬‭or‬‭without‬‭the‬‭latter‬‭having‬‭been‬‭previously‬‭notified‬‭by‬‭the‬‭employer‬‭of‬‭time‬‭of‬‭the‬‭pregnancy,‬‭the‬
‭employer‬‭shall‬‭pay‬‭to‬‭the‬‭SSS‬‭damages‬‭equivalent‬‭to‬‭the‬‭benefits‬‭which‬‭said‬‭employee‬‭would‬‭otherwise‬‭have‬‭been‬‭entitled‬‭to,‬‭and‬
‭the‬‭SSS‬‭shall‬‭in‬‭turn‬‭pay‬‭such‬‭amount‬‭to‬‭the‬‭employee‬‭concerned.‬‭(As‬‭amended‬‭by‬‭Sec.‬‭7,‬‭P.D.‬‭No.‬‭1202,‬‭S-1977;‬‭Sec.‬‭11,‬‭P.D.‬‭No.‬
‭1636, S-1979; and R.A. 7322)‬
‭ART. 133. MATERNITY LEAVE BENEFITS (LABOR CODE)‬
(‭ a)‬‭Every‬‭employer‬‭shall‬‭grant‬‭to‬‭any‬‭pregnant‬‭woman‬‭employee,‬‭who‬‭has‬‭rendered‬‭an‬‭aggregate‬‭service‬‭of‬‭at‬‭least‬‭six‬‭(6)‬‭months‬‭for‬
‭the‬‭last‬‭twelve‬‭(12)‬‭months,‬‭maternity‬‭leave‬‭of‬‭at‬‭least‬‭two‬‭(2)‬‭weeks‬‭prior‬‭to‬‭the‬‭expected‬‭date‬‭of‬‭delivery‬‭and‬‭another‬‭four‬‭(4)‬‭weeks‬
‭after‬ ‭normal‬ ‭delivery‬ ‭or‬ ‭abortion‬ ‭with‬ ‭full‬ ‭pay‬ ‭based‬ ‭on‬ ‭her‬ ‭regular‬ ‭or‬ ‭average‬ ‭weekly‬‭wages.‬‭The‬‭employer‬‭may‬‭require‬‭from‬‭any‬
‭woman‬‭employee‬‭applying‬‭for‬‭maternity‬‭leave‬‭the‬‭production‬‭of‬‭a‬‭medical‬‭certificate‬‭stating‬‭that‬‭delivery‬‭will‬‭probably‬‭take‬‭place‬‭within‬
‭two weeks.‬

(‭ b)‬‭The‬‭maternity‬‭leave‬‭shall‬‭be‬‭extended‬‭without‬‭pay‬‭on‬‭account‬‭of‬‭illness‬‭medically‬‭certified‬‭to‬‭arise‬‭out‬‭of‬‭the‬‭pregnancy,‬‭delivery,‬
‭abortion,‬ ‭or‬ ‭miscarriage,‬ ‭which‬ ‭renders‬ ‭the‬ ‭woman‬ ‭unfit‬ ‭for‬ ‭work,‬ ‭unless‬ ‭she‬ ‭has‬ ‭earned‬‭from‬‭which‬‭such‬‭extended‬‭leave‬‭may‬‭be‬
‭charged.‬
‭(c)‬‭Maternity‬‭leave‬‭provided‬‭in‬‭this‬‭Article‬‭shall‬‭be‬‭paid‬‭by‬‭the‬‭employer‬‭only‬‭for‬‭the‬‭first‬‭four‬‭(4)‬‭deliveries‬‭by‬‭a‬‭woman‬‭employee‬‭after‬
‭the effectivity of this Code.‬

‭ ualifications for Entidement to Maternity Benefit‬


Q
‭The following are the qualifications for entitlement to maternity benefits:‬
‭1. The female member should be employed at the time of delivery, miscarriage or abortion.‬
‭2. She must have given the required notification to the SSS thru her employer.‬
‭3.‬‭Her‬‭employer‬‭must‬‭have‬‭paid‬‭at‬‭least‬‭three‬‭(3)‬‭months‬‭of‬‭maternity‬‭contributions‬‭within‬‭the‬‭12-month‬‭period‬
‭immediately before the semester of contingency.‬

‭ arried or Unmarried‬
M
‭Every‬ ‭pregnant‬ ‭woman‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭private‬ ‭sector,‬ ‭whether‬ ‭married‬ ‭or‬ ‭unmarried,‬ ‭is‬ ‭entitled‬ ‭to‬ ‭maternity‬ ‭leave‬
‭benefits.‬

‭ ot Part of 13th-Month Pay‬


N
‭Maternity‬ ‭benefits,‬ ‭like‬ ‭other‬ ‭benefits‬ ‭granted‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭SSS,‬ ‭are‬ ‭granted‬ ‭to‬ ‭employees‬ ‭in‬ ‭lieu‬ ‭of‬ ‭wages‬ ‭and,‬
‭therefore, may not be included in computing the employee's 13th-month pay for the calendar year.‬

‭"BATTERED WOMAN LEAVE"‬


‭R.A. No. 9262 (the "AVAWC law")‬

"‭ Battered‬ ‭Woman‬ ‭Syndrome"‬ ‭refers‬ ‭to‬ ‭a‬ ‭scientifically‬ ‭defined‬ ‭pattern‬ ‭of‬ ‭psychological‬ ‭and‬ ‭behavioral‬
‭symptoms found in women living in battering relationships as a result of cumulative abuse.‬

‭ ECTION‬‭43.‬‭Entitled‬‭to‬‭Leave.‬‭–‬‭Victims‬‭under‬‭this‬‭Act‬‭shall‬‭be‬‭entitled‬‭to‬‭take‬‭a‬‭paid‬‭leave‬‭of‬‭absence‬‭up‬
S
‭to‬ ‭ten‬ ‭(10)‬ ‭days‬ ‭in‬ ‭addition‬ ‭to‬ ‭other‬ ‭paid‬ ‭leaves‬ ‭under‬ ‭the‬ ‭Labor‬ ‭Code‬ ‭and‬ ‭Civil‬ ‭Service‬ ‭Rules‬ ‭and‬
‭Regulations, extendible when the necessity arises as specified in the protection order.‬

‭ ny‬‭employer‬‭who‬‭shall‬‭prejudice‬‭the‬‭right‬‭of‬‭the‬‭person‬‭under‬‭this‬‭section‬‭shall‬‭be‬‭penalized‬‭in‬‭accordance‬
A
‭with‬‭the‬‭provisions‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Labor‬‭Code‬‭and‬‭Civil‬‭Service‬‭Rules‬‭and‬‭Regulations.‬‭Likewise,‬‭an‬‭employer‬‭who‬
‭shall‬‭prejudice‬‭any‬‭person‬‭for‬‭assisting‬‭a‬‭co-employee‬‭who‬‭is‬‭a‬‭victim‬‭under‬‭this‬‭Act‬‭shall‬‭likewise‬‭be‬‭liable‬
‭for discrimination.‬

"‭ Anti-violence‬‭Against‬‭Women‬‭and‬‭their‬‭Children‬‭Act‬‭of‬‭2004,"‬‭approved‬‭on‬‭March‬‭8,‬‭2004‬‭—‬‭allows‬‭the‬‭victim‬
‭of‬ ‭violence,‬ ‭which‬ ‭may‬ ‭be‬ ‭physical,‬‭sexual‬‭or‬‭psychological,‬‭to‬‭apply‬‭for‬‭the‬‭issuance‬‭of‬‭a‬‭"protection‬‭order"‬
‭that‬‭will‬‭shield‬‭her‬‭from‬‭further‬‭violence‬‭and‬‭provide‬‭her‬‭related‬‭reliefs.‬‭If‬‭such‬‭a‬‭victim‬‭is‬‭an‬‭employee‬‭she‬‭is‬
‭entitled‬‭to‬‭a‬‭paid‬‭leave‬‭of‬‭up‬‭to‬‭ten^days‬‭in‬‭addition‬‭to‬‭other‬‭paid‬‭leaves‬‭under‬‭the‬‭Labor‬‭Code,‬‭other‬‭laws,‬‭and‬
‭company‬ ‭policies.‬ ‭The‬ ‭leave‬ ‭is‬ ‭extendible‬ ‭when‬ ‭the‬ ‭necessity‬ ‭arises‬ ‭as‬‭specified‬‭in‬‭the‬‭protection‬‭order.‬‭To‬
‭apply‬‭for‬‭such‬‭leave‬‭(which‬‭in‬‭practice‬‭is‬‭called‬‭"battered‬‭woman‬‭leave"‬‭or‬‭BWL)‬‭the‬‭employee‬‭has‬‭to‬‭submit‬‭a‬
‭certification‬ ‭from‬ ‭the‬ ‭Punong‬ ‭Barangay‬ ‭or‬ ‭Kagawad‬ ‭or‬ ‭prosecutor‬ ‭or‬ ‭the‬ ‭clerk‬ ‭of‬ ‭court‬‭that‬‭an‬‭action‬‭under‬
‭R.A. No. 9262 has been filed and is pending.‬

‭ sage‬‭of‬‭the‬‭10-day‬‭leave‬‭is‬‭at‬‭the‬‭option‬‭of‬‭the‬‭woman‬‭employee.‬‭It‬‭shall‬‭cover‬‭the‬‭day‬‭or‬‭days‬‭when‬‭she‬‭will‬
U
‭have‬‭to‬‭attend‬‭to‬‭medical‬‭and‬‭legal‬‭concerns.‬‭Leaves‬‭not‬‭availed‬‭of‬‭are‬‭non-cumulative‬‭and‬‭not‬‭convertible‬‭to‬
‭cash‬

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