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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When Reimbursement Claims Belong to Labor Tribunals: Esico v. Alphaland
The Supreme Court clarifies when an employer's training reimbursement claim is a labor dispute, not a civil case.
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.
Union Registration Mixed Composition Bars Legal Standing In Labor Disputes
A union with mixed supervisory and rank-and-file members lacks legal personality to file petitions in labor disputes.
Due Process in Labor Arbitration: The Unicraft Industries Case on Fair Hearings
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on due process rights in voluntary arbitration, emphasizing the importance of fair hearings and the binding effect of party stipulations in labor disputes.
Relaxing Procedural Rules in Labor Disputes: Substantial Justice Prevails
The Supreme Court reminds litigants that procedural rules yield to substantial justice in labor cases, as shown in this disability claim dispute.
Dismissal Dilemmas Proving Just Cause AND Ensuring DUE Process IN Labor Disputes
Upholding Timeliness and Proper Verification in Labor Disputes: The Pfizer Case
The Supreme Court clarifies the 60-day rule for certiorari petitions and the standards for verification in labor cases.
Judicial Overreach: When Regular Courts Overstep Labor Disputes
Supreme Court ruling on when regional trial courts overstep jurisdiction by issuing TROs in labor cases, explained for lay readers.
Due Process in Labor Disputes: Fair Hearings and Just Outcomes in Philippine Law
Explore how Philippine courts ensure due process in labor disputes, balancing employer rights and employee protections for fair hearings.
Retroactive Application of Procedural Rules: Timely Filing of Certiorari Petitions in Labor Disputes
Learn how the Supreme Court applied A.M. No. 00-2-03-SC retroactively, allowing a late certiorari petition in a labor case to proceed.
GOCC vs. Private Corporation: Labor Jurisdiction and the Philippine National Red Cross Case
Learn how the Supreme Court's charter test determines whether an employer is a GOCC and which tribunal—CSC or NLRC—has jurisdiction over labor disputes.
Compromise Agreements in Philippine Labor Disputes: Swift and Amicable Settlements
The Supreme Court approves a compromise agreement in a labor case, showing how parties can settle disputes amicably and avoid prolonged litigation.
How Corporate Rehabilitation Suspends Labor Disputes: The Rubberworld Case
When a company under rehabilitation faces labor claims, the SEC's automatic stay suspends all actions—including labor cases before the NLRC.
When Reinstatement Isnt Required Philippine Supreme Court ON Separation PAY IN Labor Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when separation pay substitutes for reinstatement in illegal dismissal cases, balancing worker protection with employer realities.
DUE Process AND Union Security Balancing Rights IN Labor Disputes
Abandonment in Labor Disputes: Defining Intent and Action
Understanding how Philippine labor law defines abandonment—requiring both intent to sever and unequivocal acts—and why employers must prove it.
NLRC Remand Orders and Due Process in Philippine Labor Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies when the NLRC may remand labor cases for further proceedings without violating due process rights.
Missed Deadline Dismissed Case Understanding THE 60 Day Certiorari Rule IN Philippine Labor Disputes
Learn how the 60-day certiorari rule works in Philippine labor cases, including how motions for reconsideration affect the deadline, from a Supreme Court ruling.
Exhausting Administrative Remedies: A Key Principle in Philippine Labor Disputes
Why skipping the appeal to the Labor Secretary doomed a union's election protest before the Supreme Court.
MSF Tire v. CA: When a Company Cannot Claim "Innocent Bystander" Status in Labor Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies when a company with ties to a business in a labor dispute cannot claim "innocent bystander" status to obtain an injunction against picketing.
Limits of DOLE Jurisdiction: When the Labor Secretary Can Intervene in Philippine Labor Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies that the Labor Secretary may only assume jurisdiction over strikes in industries indispensable to national interest.
Grievance Before Strike: SC Upholds CBA Machinery in Labor Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court rules unions must exhaust CBA grievance and arbitration procedures before declaring a strike, citing San Miguel Corp. v. NLRC.
Due Process in Labor Disputes: Why Ignoring Deadlines Can Cost Employers Dearly
A Supreme Court ruling shows why employers must respect due process and deadlines in labor cases, or face costly consequences.
Due Process in Labor Disputes: What Pepsi Cola v. NLRC Teaches About Fair Hearings
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that due process in labor cases means notice and opportunity to be heard, not endless chances to submit pleadings.