DOLE urged to inspect all Ricky Reyes’ salons for labor law compliance

The labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippine-Nagkaisa (TUCP-Nagkaisa) urged the  Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Sunday to conduct labor compliance inspections of all the salons of celebrity hairstylist Ricky Reyes, who was earlier accused of terminating an employee allegedly after learning he was afflicted with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

“After receiving numerous complaints from other salon employees, we are urging Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz to conduct compliance visits to all beauty parlors owned and operated by Ricky Reyes to determine if all of his company (salons) is complying with the lawful wages, mandated monthly payments of premiums to SSS (Social Security System), Philhealth (Philippine Health Insurance Corp.), and Pag-ibig (Home Mutual Developent Fund).

“This serves as our complaint and the basis for the DOLE to conduct inspections,” said Alan Tanjusay, TUCP-Nagkaisa spokesperson, in a statement.

The TUCP said Reyes’ former employee, Rene Nocos, 47, came out in public on June 30 and accused his former employer of discrimination, unlawful termination, underpayment of wages and 13th month pay and non-payment of social welfare benefits. He was employed by Ricky Reyes’ company for 10 years.

Nocos claimed he was fired by Reyes upon learning he had HIV on Feb. 28, 2014 despite doctors’ certifications that he was fit to work.

TUCP said Nocos has charged Reyes with multiple labor violations at the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC).

Tanjusay said the labor secretary could invoke her visitorial and enforcement powers to inspect workplace establishments under Article 128 of the Labor Code through its Labor Law Compliance Officers (LLCO) using an assessment checklist.