Legal Insights
Plain-language guides and case briefs on Philippine law — researched from the firm's law library of 184,000+ statutes, Supreme Court decisions, and agency issuances, and written so non-lawyers can understand and act on them.
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Independent Contractors vs Regular Employees: Defining the Boundaries of Employer Liability
The Supreme Court clarifies when a principal is not the employer of a contractor's workers, and why the regular employment test does not apply in trilateral arrangements.
Independent Contractor or Employee: The Four-Fold Test in Philippine Labor Law
When is an insurance agent an employee, not an independent contractor? The Supreme Court explains the four-fold test and the crucial "control test" in Tongko v. Manulife.
Freelance or Employee? The Test for Newspaper Columnists in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains when a newspaper columnist is an independent contractor, not an employee, under the control test.
When Is a Newspaper Columnist an Employee? The Orozco Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies when a newspaper columnist is an independent contractor, not an employee, under the control test.
Independent Contractor vs Employee: The Four-Fold Test in Philippine Labor Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the four-fold test distinguishing independent contractors from employers in labor disputes involving job contracting arrangements.
Solidary Liability in Labor Disputes: When Principals and Contractors Share Responsibility
The Supreme Court clarifies when a principal is solidarily liable with an independent contractor for labor claims, and when it is not.
Regular Employee vs Independent Contractor: Security Guard Rights Under Labor Law
Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a security guard is a regular employee, not an independent contractor, and the rights that follow.
Independent Contractor vs Employee: The Control Test in Philippine Labor Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the control test distinguishing independent contractors from employees in labor disputes, using a restroom concessionaire case.
Distinguishing Employees From Independent Contractors: The Control Test in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Supreme Court explains the control test for distinguishing employees from independent contractors in labor law disputes.
Regular Employment Status of Drama Talents: Security of Tenure vs Independent Contractorship
Philippine Supreme Court rules drama talents are regular employees, not independent contractors, when work is necessary to business.
Independent Contractor OR Employee Philippine Supreme Court Clarifies Control Test IN Labor Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the control test distinguishing independent contractors from employees in labor disputes, protecting worker rights.
Control Test vs Independent Contractor: Manila Water Ruling on Labor-Only Contracting
Supreme Court explains when a contractor is labor-only, not independent, and when workers become regular employees under Philippine labor law.
Independent Contractor vs Employee: Defining the Lines in Media Talent Engagements
The Supreme Court clarifies when a TV or radio host is an independent contractor, not an employee, using the control test.
Defining Independent Contractors: The Control Test in Philippine Labor Law
The Supreme Court clarifies the control test for distinguishing independent contractors from employees, protecting workers' rights under Philippine labor law.
Employee vs Independent Contractor: How the Control Test Decides Labor Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the control test in distinguishing employees from independent contractors, using a movie theater painter's illegal dismissal case.
Employee vs Independent Contractor: SSS Coverage for Farmworkers in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a "pakyaw (piece-rate) basis considered an employee entitled to compulsory Social Security System (SSS) coverage? The ruling is a reminder that the label used b
Employee vs. Independent Contractor: The Four-Fold Test Under Philippine Law
The Supreme Court's ruling in Corporal v. NLRC clarifies when workers are true employees, not independent contractors, under Philippine labor law.
Independent Contractor vs Employee: Key Distinctions in Philippine Labor Law
When is a worker an employee, not an independent contractor? The Supreme Court explains the tests in this Philippine labor case.
Independent Contractor vs Employee: Supreme Court Clarifies Labor Law Distinction
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a worker is an independent contractor's employee rather than the principal company's regular employee.
Employee vs. Independent Contractor: The Four-Fold Test Under Philippine Law
Philippine courts use the four-fold test to distinguish employees from independent contractors. Control is the key factor.
Employee vs Independent Contractor: The Control Test in Philippine Labor Law (Ushio Marketing Case)
The Ushio Marketing case clarifies the control test for determining employer-employee relationships in Philippine labor law.
Independent Contractor vs Labor-Only Contracting: Key Differences and Employer Responsibilities in the Philipp
Learn the legal distinction between independent contractor and labor-only contracting, and the employer responsibilities that follow, based on a 1998 Supreme Court ruling.
Employee vs Independent Contractor: Key Lessons from Santos v. NLRC
The Supreme Court clarifies how Philippine courts determine employee vs independent contractor status, using the four-fold test in Santos v. NLRC.
When "Independent Contractor" Labels Fail: The Four-Fold Test in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine courts look beyond contract labels to determine employer-employee relationships. Learn the four-fold test from Insular Life v. NLRC.