4/6/2021 E-Library - Information At Your Fingertips: Printer Friendly overseas Filipino workers, which include basic provisions for food, accommodation and transportation. The licensed recruitment agency shall also, prior to the signing of the employment contract, inform the overseas Filipino workers of their rights and obligations, and disclose the full terms and conditions of employment, and provided them with a copy of the POEA approved contract, to give them ample opportunity to examine the san1e.[40] Award of moral and exemplary damages, and attorney's fees. The Court finds no cogent reason to disturb the award of damages and attorney's fees in favor of respondents considering that the acts of petitioners were evidently tainted with bad faith. Petitioners' failure to comply with the stipulations on the POEA-approved employment contracts of respondents with regard to salaries and transportation expenses, guaranteed under our labor laws, constituted an act oppressive to labor and more importantly, contrary to law and public policy. Petitioners even tried to justify the execution and validity of the Addendum and cloak the latter as legal and binding through respondents' execution of Foreign Worker's affidavits. However, the affidavits of respondents explicitly indicated that their monthly wage/salary shall be NT$17,280.00 for Beltran and NT$15,840.00 for Baybayan.[41] There was nothing in the mentioned affidavits which would indicate that there would be deductions to respondents' salaries. Indeed, the Court finds appalling petitioners' circumvention of our labor laws and the intentional diminution of employee's benefits guaranteed by our laws to land-based overseas workers-indicative of petitioners' exercise of bad faith and fraud in their dealings with Filipino workers. As regards Beltran's summary dismissal from employment, there was· nothing "voluntary" in putting words into Beltran's own mouth in the guise of her handwritten statement of resignation. Petitioners' attempt to demonstrate voluntariness fails since "cooperate" is more of an imposition coming from the employer rather than from a disadvantaged overseas employee. The execution of the documents was indeed plainly oppressive and violative of Beltran's security of tenure. Veritably, the award of moral and exemplary damages is sufficient to allay the sufferings experienced by respondents and by way of example or correction for public good, respectively. Peralta is solidarily liable with Prime Stars. Peralta is jointly and severally liable with Prime Stars. Section 10 of RA 8042 mandates solidary liability among the corporate officers, directors, partners and the corporation or partnership for any claims and damages that may be due to the overseas workers, viz.: Section 10. Monetary Claims. - x x x The liability of the principal/employer and the recruitment/placement agency for any and all claims under this section shall be joint and several. This provision shall be incorporated in the contract for overseas employment and shall be a condition precedent for its approval. The performance bond to be filed by the recruitment/placement agency, as provided by law, shall be answerable for all money claims or damages that may be awarded to the https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocsfriendly/1/66097 8/12

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