Rosario Brothers VS Hon. Ople 07-31-1984
Rosario Brothers VS Hon. Ople 07-31-1984
Rosario Brothers VS Hon. Ople 07-31-1984
Facts:
Private respondents are tailors hired by the petitioner in its tailoring department. They were paid
weekly wages on piece-work basis, minus the withholding tax of BIR. They were registered with SSS as
employees of petitioner. They were required to report to work and stay in the shop for no less than 8
hours a day. A master cutter distributed job order equally. Private respondents file a complaint for
violation of PD 851 (13th month pay) and PD 525 (Emergency Living Allowance) against petitioner.
Issue:
WON an employer-employee relationship exists.
Ruling:
Yes.
The existence of ER-EE relationship is determined by: the selection and engagement of
employee, payment of wages, power of dismissal, power to control employee’s conduct.
In the case at bar, the selection and hiring of respondents was done by petitioner through the
master cutter. Respondents received their weekly wages from petitioner on piece-work basis within the
meaning of the term “wage” under the Labor Code, which defined as “the remuneration or earnings.
However, designated, whether fixed on a time, task, piece or commission basis, payable by an employer
to an employee under a written or unwritten contact for work done or to be done or for services rendered
or to be rendered. Petitioner also had the power to dismiss respondents, thus, the latter’s conduct was
controlled by petitioner. Respondents were allowed to register with SSS and withholding taxes were also
deducted from their wages.