ni Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta @Magtanong Kay Attorney | Nov. 15, 2024
Dear Chief Acosta,
Kamakailan lamang ay nalaman ko na humihina ang kita ng malaking kainang aking pinapasukan. Sinabihan ako ng management ng kainan na ito na sila ay magsasara dahil sa pagkalugi. Kasabay nito, sinabi rin nila na kinakailangan ko munang pumirma ng isang document of release with quit claim, isauli ang cellphone na matagal na nilang ipinagkatiwala sa akin na siyang ginagamit ko sa kainan, at bakantehin ko ang aking tinitirhang kuwarto dahil stay-in ako roon, bago ko makuha ang aking leave credits, termination benefits, at 13th month pay. Tama ba ito? — Matty
Dear Matty,
Ang pagbibigay ng clearance procedures bago maibigay sa inyo ang inyong last payments at benefits ay pinapayagan ng ating batas.
Sinabi ng ating Korte Suprema sa kasong Emer Milan, et al., vs. NLRC (G.R. No. 202961, 4 February 2015), sa pamamagitan ni Kagalang-galang na Kasamang Mahistrado Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, na:
“Our law supports the employers’ institution of clearance procedures before the release of wages. As an exception to the general rule that wages may not be withheld and benefits may not be diminished, the Labor Code provides:
Art. 113. Wage deduction. No employer, in his own behalf or in behalf of any person, shall make any deduction from the wages of his employees, except:
1. In cases where the worker is insured with his consent by the employer, and the deduction is to recompense the employer for the amount paid by him as premium on the insurance;
2. For union dues, in cases where the right of the worker or his union to check-off has been recognized by the employer or authorized in writing by the individual worker concerned; and
3. In cases where the employer is authorized by law or regulations issued by the Secretary of Labor and Employment.”
Ayon din sa Kodigo Sibil, ang isang employer ay maaaring mag-withhold ng sahod ng kanyang empleyado para sa mga utang nito, kaya:
“Article 1706. Withholding of the wages, except for a debt due, shall not be made by the employer.
Dagdag pa sa nasabing kaso:
“‘Debt’ in this case refers to any obligation due from the employee to the employer. It includes any accountability that the employee may have to the employer. There is no reason to limit its scope to uniforms and equipment, as petitioners would argue. Xxx.
The return of the property’s possession became an obligation or liability on the part of the employees when the employer-employee relationship ceased. Thus, respondent Solid Mills has the right to withhold petitioners’ wages and benefits because of this existing debt or liability.”
Base sa nabanggit sa itaas, ang inyong kumpanya ay maaaring magbigay ng alituntunin hinggil sa pagsasagawa ng inyong clearance gaya ng paggawa ng release with quitclaim bago nila ibigay sa inyo ang inyong separation pay at 13th month pay para masiguro na bago kayo tuluyang umalis sa inyong trabaho, ang mga properties o equipment ng inyong kumpanya na nasa inyong pag-iingat ay maibalik sa kanila. Kaugnay nito, obligasyon ninyong ibalik sa kanila ang nasabing cellphone, ganoon din ang pagbakante sa kuwartong inyong tinitirhan.
Sana ay nabigyan namin ng linaw ang iyong katanungan. Ang payong aming ibinigay ay base lamang sa mga impormasyon na iyong inilahad at maaaring magbago kung mababawasan o madaragdagan ang mga detalye ng iyong salaysay.
Maraming salamat sa iyong patuloy na pagtitiwala.
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