Department of Labor and Employment, City of San Fernando, Papanga vs employees

On March 17th 2008 was the 6th and supposedly last "hearing" in the case NLRC Case No RAB III-11-120101-07 of the 3 sacked Swiss Chalet employees.

While the MINIMUM WAGE RATES appear to be published BY the Department of Labor and Employment - it was more than apparent that the DoLE had no intentions at all to defend or implement the minimum wages published in the ongoing case of Hotel Restaurant Swiss Chalet's Owner/Manager Hans Hofmann vs his 3 sacked employees.

The Dept of Labor repeatedly attempted to create or "calculate" lowest possible "deals" for the 3 girls - none of these proposals being even near the true amount of backwages and other possible amounts due in this case. At no time was there a legal counseling of rights and law applicable in favor of the 3 girls. The relationship between Swiss Chalet representant and Dept of Labor appeared a teamwork vs the employees.

The Dept of Labor of course denied the 3 girls to receive any counseling ( by me ) in this case. Hence I was just witness of the entire hearing. It also was apparent that none of any employees, the 3 girls NOR any other regular NON-legally qualified employee EVER could find justice in a jungle of law and backdoors where no one defends the rights of exploited employees.

No result was achieved and while the Dept of Labor seem to have promised to the 3 girls this 17th March hearing to be the last one - another hearing date was set for April 4th 2008.

After more than 3 months of hearings in this case, it is apparent that the tactic of Dept of Labor and Hans Hofmann Swiss Chalet seem to be to tire and exhaust the 3 sacked employees and let them run out of courage and out of money as well. until they might be ready to accept what ever monkey business "deal" the Dept of Labor and Hans Hofmann agree.

This is a typical case where Dept of Labor acts vs its own people in favor of business owners. Therefore it was agreed upon by all 3 girls that this WILL be the last hearing and the case NLRC Case No RAB III-11-120101-07 if unsolved after March 17th needs to proceed to Manila.

Since this case and situation also applies to most other remaining employees of Hotel/Restaurant Swiss Chalet as well as to hundreds of thousands of employees from other establishments in the Philippines. I will continue to pursue this case and publish any improvements or results. With the Philippines' Transparency International Ranking in Corruption as low as 131 ( Rank 1 being the most trustworthy countries and a confidence range of 2.3 - 2.7 with 10 being full confidence in authority. The Philippine islands are in need of less corruption, more honesty, less monkey business and more human like behavior in politics and economy. Who if not the Dept of Labor is helper of exploited or abused employees ? Apparently the Dept of Labor was a wrong choice in Papanga.

We will soon find out if there is a "Protector of the People" in the Philippines as well. A protector who can protect regular mortal people without money for lawyers, people without degrees in law, people like farmers, fishermen or just regular employees and workers or helpers serving the country's economy.

People need to have a right for dignity, to be treated with dignity by all, including employers and administration and to be treated with equal rights independent of their wealth or poverty, independent of having a degree in law, other educational degrees or relatives in a higher government position.

One tiny little sparkle of good news and hope for a better future however has appeared on the horizon for Swiss Chalet employees - true or just a rumour to appease me may need evidence. But according to the Meeting I had with the Swiss Chalet representant and the 3 girls on March 10th - I have been assured by the Swiss Chalet rep that the employees NOW receive the legal minimum wages .... No mention of backwages for the many years loyally serving employees.

love and bliss

hans

Previous articles on this subject:

• Exploitation of employees by employers
• Budget travel in the Philippines - when saving money becomes too expensive
• The meaning of a warning in the Philippines
• Swiss Chalet Angeles case of employees exploitation proceeds again to Department of Labor
• Hotel Swiss Chalet Angeles City sacks employees
• Hotel Swiss Chalet Angeles City - Entlassungen von unterbezahlten Hotelangestellten als Weihnachtsgeschenk