5/28/2020
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directly related to extra efforts undertaken, the law simply limits their
liability for the wrongful dismissals of already deployed OFWs. This is
effectively a legally-imposed partial condonation of their liability to OFWs,
justified solely by the law’s intent to encourage greater deployment efforts.
Thus, the incentive, from a more practical and realistic view, is really part of
a scheme to sell Filipino overseas labor at a bargain for purposes solely of
attracting the market. . . .
The so-called incentive is rendered particularly odious by its effect on the
OFWs — the benefits accruing to the recruitment/manning agencies and
their principals are taken from the pockets of the OFWs to whom the full
salaries for the unexpired portion of the contract rightfully belong. Thus, the
principals/employers and the recruitment/manning agencies even profit from
their violation of the security of tenure that an employment contract
embodies. Conversely, lesser protection is afforded the OFW, not only
because of the lessened recovery afforded him or her by operation of law,
but also because this same lessened recovery renders a wrongful dismissal
easier and less onerous to undertake; the lesser cost of dismissing a Filipino
will always be a consideration a foreign employer will take into account in
termination of employment decisions. . . .[126]
Further, “[t]here can never be a justification for any form of government action that
alleviates the burden of one sector, but imposes the same burden on another sector,
especially when the favored sector is composed of private businesses such as
placement agencies, while the disadvantaged sector is composed of OFWs whose
protection no less than the Constitution commands. The idea that private business
interest can be elevated to the level of a compelling state interest is odious.”[127]
Along the same line, we held that the reinstated clause violates due process rights. It is
arbitrary as it deprives overseas workers of their monetary claims without any
discernable valid purpose.[128]
Respondent Joy Cabiles is entitled to her salary for the unexpired portion of her
contract, in accordance with Section 10 of Republic Act No. 8042. The award of the
three-month equivalence of respondent’s salary must be modified accordingly. Since
she started working on June 26, 1997 and was terminated on July 14, 1997,
respondent is entitled to her salary from July 15, 1997 to June 25, 1998. “To rule
otherwise would be iniquitous to petitioner and other OFWs, and would, in effect, send
a wrong signal that principals/employers and recruitment/manning agencies may
violate an OFW’s security of tenure which an employment contract embodies and
actually profit from such violation based on an unconstitutional provision of law.”[129]
III
On the interest rate, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Circular No. 799 of June 21, 2013,
which revised the interest rate for loan or forbearance from 12% to 6% in the absence
of stipulation, applies in this case. The pertinent portions of Circular No. 799, Series of
elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocsfriendly/1/57319
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