Employees Right

Wages should be paid in cash, legal tender, or through a bank to the employee.

Wages must be paid at least once every two weeks or twice a month at intervals of not more than 16 days.

AN ACT TO EXTEND PROTECTION TO LABOR, STRENGTHEN THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF WORKERS TO SELF-ORGANIZATION, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND PEACEFUL CONCERTED ACTIVITIES, FOSTER INDUSTRIAL PEACE AND HARMONY, PROMOTE THE PREFERENTIAL USE OF VOLUNTARY MODES OF SETTLING LABOR DISPUTES, AND REORGANIZE THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS COMMISSION, AMENDING FOR THESE PURPOSES CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 442, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LABOR CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

ART. 129. Recovery of wages, simple money claims and other benefits.—Upon complaint of any interested party, the Regional Director of the Department of Labor and Employment or any of the duly authorized hearing officers of the Department is empowered, through summary proceeding and after due notice, to hear and decide any matter involving the recovery of wages and other monetary claims and benefits, including legal interest, owing to an employee or person employed in domestic or household service or househelper under this Code, arising from employer-employee relations: Provided, That such complaint does not include a claim for reinstatement: Provided, further, That the aggregate money claims of each employee or househelper do not exceed Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00).

Employers are required to give workers with all types of on-the-job protection against injury, illness, and death by providing safe and healthy working conditions.

ART. 110. Worker preference in case of bankruptcy.—In the event of bankruptcy or liquidation of an employer’s business, his workers shall enjoy first preference as regards their unpaid wages and other monetary claims, any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding. Such unpaid wages and monetary claims shall be paid in full before the claims of the Government and other creditors may be paid.

“ART. 211. Declaration of policy.—A. It is the policy of the State:

“(a) To promote and emphasize the primacy of free collective bargaining and negotiations, including voluntary arbitration, mediation and conciliation, as modes of settling labor or industrial disputes;

“(b) To promote free trade unionism as an instrument for the enhancement of democracy and the promotion of social justice and development;

“(c) To foster the free and voluntary organization of a strong and united labor movement;

“(d) To promote the enlightenment of workers concerning their rights and obligations as union members and as employees;

“(e) To provide an adequate administrative machinery for the expeditious settlement of labor or industrial disputes;

“(f) To ensure a stable but dynamic and just industrial peace; and

“(g) To ensure the participation of workers in decision and policy-making processes affecting their rights, duties and welfare.

“B. To encourage a truly democratic method of regulating the relations between the employers and employees by means of agreements freely entered into through collective bargaining, no court or administrative agency or official shall have the power to set or fix wages, rates of pay, hours of work or other terms and conditions of employment, except as otherwise provided under this Code.”