7 workers win case against retrenchment

ILOILO CITY—After holding protest actions for more than four months, seven retrenched workers of a cargo forwarding company can now go back to work.

The National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) Western Visayas office has ordered Pambato Cargo Forwarders Inc. (PCFI) to reinstate seven workers that it laid off on Oct. 31, 2012.

In a 10-page decision issued on Feb. 28 but released on March 7, the NLRC said the seven workers were illegally dismissed by the company.

In the order issued by labor arbiter Rodrigo Camacho, the NLRC directed the PCFI to reinstate the workers to their former positions and to pay them a total of P369,936.83 in back wages, 13th month pay and lawyer’s fees.

The company was ordered to implement the decision within 10 days after receipt of the order.

In its decision, the NLRC dismissed the claim of the company that it reduced its workforce due to a drop in earnings.