738 Phil. 319
PEREZ, J.:
WHEREFORE, decision is hereby rendered declaring that [Ampeloquio] is a regular employee of respondent RMI Marketing (now known as JAKA DISTRIBUTION, INC.) and that he was illegally dismissed.
The respondents RMI Marketing Corp., (now known as JAKA DISTRIBUTION, INC.) and Teodoro Barzabal, are ordered to reinstate [petitioner] Monchito Ampeloquio in his former position as merchandiser without loss of seniority rights and other benefits and to pay him backwages and attorney’s fees in the total amount of THREE HUNDRED THIRTY THREE THOUSAND FOUR PESOS & 42/100 (P333,034.42).[1]
[The] supposed daily wage [prevailing at the time of his reinstatement] was P394.12, COLA at P1,200.00 per month, meal allowance of P60.00 and transportation allowance from house to outlet [and] vice-versa that his co-employees in the same job received P4,500.00 or P281.25 daily wage actual cost of transportation expenses and meal allowance of P60.00 per day; that a messengerial employee receives P394.21 or P9,641.00 monthly salary plus transportation and meal allowance; x x x.[2]
x x x [Ampeloquio] seeks entitlement to underpayment or wage differential of P142.00, COLA differential of P500.00 a month, meal allowance of P60.00 per day and average transportation allowance of P100.00 per day; that he called the attention of [JAKA’s general manager], Mr. Ariel Villasenor about his concern on 16 March 2005 but to no avail although upon second demand his ECOLA was increased to P1,200.00 per month starting 16 July 2006.
For their part, [JAKA] avers that it is engaged in the business of distribution of consumer goods; that [Ampeloquio] is their only regular employee as merchandiser; that at the time of the filing of this case, [Ampeloquio] is still working in a supermarket with a monthly salary of P7,985.00; that their other merchandiser[s] are outsourced from manpower agencies or are seasonal employees hired during peak season; that the salary of [Ampeloquio] was based on the minimum wage of P250.00 and ECOLA of P50.00 per day; that it is in the process of computing the wage distortion in the implementation of 2005 wage increase of P25.00; that their exemption in the implementation of wage increase expired last 25 June 2006 prior to the filing of this complaint; that they did not act on [Ampeloquio’s] demand for money claims due to the pendency of this case.
In their reply, [JAKA] admits that [Ampeloquio] was reinstated in accordance with the Labor Arbiter’s decision in the illegal dismissal case; that he received the same rate as that of his co-employees, hence there is no basis for [Ampeloquio’s] money claims. On the other hand, [Ampeloquio] stressed the discrepancy and discrimination in the payment of wages which he allegedly suffered as he received lower than that of his co-workers and to substantiate his arguments he submitted the payslips of his co-employees.[4]
x x x [Ampeloquio] is receiving a basic rate of P6,545.00, ECOLA of P1,200.00, transportation allowance of P240.00, and medicine allowance of P200.00; and that the company had made clear to merchandisers as early as 2004 that transportation reimbursement can only be made in such eventuality and does not include an instance where the employee (merchandiser) leaves his house to go to his assigned outlet or if he leaves his last outlet to go home.[5]
WHEREFORE, premises considered[,] judgment is entered finding that [Ampeloquio] was illegally (sic) in bad faith, underpaid his wages, basic, COLA not paid his meal allowance and transportation allowance by [JAKA], ORDERING, hence [JAKA] (sic):
1. to pay him from 04/04/2005 to 06/14/2005 the total underpayment of COLA P3.85/day + unpaid nonstandard benefit of P60.00 meal allowance/day + nonstandard benefit of 36.06 transportation allowance/day, total of P99.85/day or P2,596.00/month x 2.53 months = P6,568.00 unpaid benefits and to pay him from 06/15/2005 – 06/05/2006 the underpayment of P122.96/day or P3,196.96/month x 11.6 months = P37,084.73 total unpaid wage differential, both to earn 12% legal interest from date of suit on 06/05/2006 until finally paid, plus 10% attorney’s fees on the total amount in accord with Article 111 of the Labor Code.
2. to pay him moral damage[s] of P50,000.00 and exemplary [damages] of P10,000.00.[6]
- The claim should be limited to the three (3) year prescriptive period, that is, from date of filing 06/05/2006 and back, to 06/05/2003;
- The existing statutory minimum wages and COLA during said 3-year period, viz:
1. 06/05/2003 – 07/09/2004 Era of (Basic) W.O. No. NCR-08 effective 11/01/2000 and (COLA) NCR 09 effective 11/05/2001 and 02/01/2002
Basic P250/day x 26 = P6,500/month + COLA P30.00/day x 26 = P780/month
Daily Take Home P250 + P30 = P280
Monthly Take Home P6,500 + P780 = P7,280
2. 07/10/2004 – 06/14/2005 Era of W.O. NCR-10 COLA increase of P20.00/day effective 07/10/2004
Basic same + COLA P50.00 x P26 = P1,300
Daily Take Home P250 + P50 = P300
Monthly Take Home P6,500 + P1,300 = P7,800
3. 06/15/2005 – 06/05/2006 Era of W.O. NCR 11 Basic increase of P25.00/day effective 06/15/2005
Basic P275/day x 26 = P7,150/month + COLA P50.00/day x 26 = P1,300/month
Daily Take Home P275 + P50 = P325
Monthly Take Home P7,150 + P1,300 = P8,450.00[7]
In this case it is undisputed that [Ampeloquio’s] claim for salary differential covers the period from his date of reinstatement on 06 August 2004 to the date of the filing of this case on 05 June 2006. x x x.
A close examination of the Wage Orders material to [Ampeloquio’s] claim show that under Wage Order No. 10 [on] ECOLA was granted in the amount of P20.00/day from July 10, 2004 and Wage Order No. 11 granted an increase of P25.00/day in the basic daily wage of workers from 16 June 2005 until 10 July 2006.
It appears however, that [JAKA] applied for an exemption in the implementation of Wage Order Nos. 10 and 11 x x x before the National Capitol Region Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board and the latter in their Orders and dated 11 November 2004 and 28 September 2005 respectively granted the former twelve (12) months exemption from 10 July 2004 up to 09 July 2005 and 16 June 2005 until 15 June 2006. x x x.
In view of the foregoing, [Ampeloquio] is only entitled to a salary differential, as follows:
1. From 06 August 2004 to 15 June 2005 there are 269 days at 26 days per month.
The basic salary under the Wage Order is P250.00 per day plus P50.00 ECOLA. Applying the 12 months exemption or non-implementation of the P20.00 increase in ECOLA, [Ampeloquio] is only entitled to P280.00 per day but since he was paid P252.00 which he admitted, the salary differential for the 269 days period at P28.00 per day is SEVEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY-TWO (P7,532.00) PESOS only.
2. From 16 June 2005 up to 05 June 2006 there are 305 working days at 26 days per month.
The basic salary under Wage Order No. 11 was increase by P25.00 or has become P275.00 plus the P50.00 ECOLA making the minimum wage P325.00 per day.
Applying the exemption for 12 months to [Ampeloquio] his basic salary remained at P250.00 but her ECOLA has increased to P50.00 because of the expiration of the period for exemption, hence his salary is P300.00. Considering that he was paid only P252.00 pesos, his salary differential for the period is P48.00 pesos or the total amount of FOURTEEN THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED FORTY (P14,640.00) PESOS only.
[Ampeloquio] is therefore entitled to a total salary differential of only P22,172.00.
[JAKA’s] contention that [Ampeloquio] is not entitled to reimbursement of transportation expenses from the latters house to the outlet where he was assigned and back is impressed with merit. [JAKA] submitted a copy of their policies and the pertinent portion, states:
“7. The only transportation expenses allowed to be reimbursed are those incurred from the first outlet to succeeding outlets. The transportation reimbursement shall not include house to first outlet and last outlet to house.” x x x.
[JAKA’s] contention that [Ampeloquio] is not entitled to attorney’s fees is untenable. Article III of the Labor Code expressly provides that in cases of unlawful withholding or recovery of wages, attorney’s fee may be granted to the worker.
However, we agree with [JAKA] that [Ampeloquio] is not entitled to moral and exemplary damages. [Ampeloquio] failed to prove his entitlement with substantial proof that there was bad faith on the part of [JAKA] by its failure to voluntarily pay his salary differential.
WHEREFORE, premises considered, the appeal is PARTLY GRANTED and the Decision dated 25 May 2007 is MODIFIED ordering [JAKA] to pay [Ampeloquio] his salary differential in the total amount of P22,172.00 and ten percent (10%) thereof as attorney’s fees.[9]
x x x [Ampeloquio] was employed under circumstances far different from that of his other co-employees. In fact, he never disputed the fact that he is the lone regular merchandiser of JAKA while his other co-employees either work as casual or contractual employees. Thus, since his employment condition or status is different than that of his co-employees, there is no point of comparison as far as their wages and other remunerations are concerned. Precisely, the minimum wage law exists to provide as guideposts for the least pay that an employee must receive for a day’s work. It does not serve as restrictions on the right of the employer to provide other monetary or non-monetary benefits to its employees. For as long as [Ampeloquio] is paid the minimum statutory wage rate or his wage rate prior to his illegal dismissal, whichever is higher, he has no cause of action against his employer JAKA as far as wage differential is concerned.
Further, [Ampeloquio] cannot [anchor] his right to equal pay based on wage distortions. For well-settled is the rule that the issue of whether or not a wage distortion exists is a question of fact that is within the jurisdiction of the quasi-judicial tribunals below. Factual findings of administrative agencies are accorded respect and even finality in this Court if they are supported by substantial evidence. As a rule, judicial review by this court does not extend to a reevaluation of the factual circumstances of the case. Specialized agencies are presumed to have gained expertise on matters within their respective fields. Thus, their findings of fact, when supported by substantial evidence, are entitled to great respect and are generally rendered conclusive upon this Court, except only upon a clear showing of palpable error or arbitrary disregard of evidence. A thorough examination of the records of this case reveals no reason to justify a reversal of the factual findings of the NLRC.
Again, after carefully reviewing the [NLRC’s] assailed resolutions, this Court finds the same to have been amply supported by substantial evidence.
WHEREFORE, the instant petition for Certiorari is DENIED.[11]
1
x x x THE HONORABLE COURT [OF APPEALS] COMMITTED A SERIOUS REVERSIBLE ERROR IN RULING THAT MONCHITO IS ONLY ENTITLED TO WAGES OR SALARY SCALE THAT GOVERNS THE MINIMUM WAGE RATE THEN PREVAILING OR HIS ACTUAL DAILY WAGE RATE, WHICHEVER IS HIGHER AND NOT EQUAL TO THE WAGES AND BENEFITS RECEIVED BY MONCHITO’S CO-EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE SERVICE OF THE COMPANY FOR LESSER YEARS BUT WHO ARE RECEIVING FAR MORE BENEFITS AND BIGGER WAGES.2
THE HONORABLE COURT [OF APPEALS] COMMITTED A SERIOUS REVERSIBLE ERROR IN ITS DECISION WHEREIN IT CONSTRUED UNFAVORABLY ARTICLE 223 OF THE LABOR CODE AS AGAINST [AMPELOQUIO], HEREIN PETITIONER-LABORER WHICH THEREBY RESULTED TO THE VIOLATION OF THE SEPTEMBER 18, 2001 DECISION OF THE LABOR ARBITER WHICH DIRECTED [JAKA] TO REINSTATE [AMPELOQUIO] TO HIS FORMER POSITION AS MERCHANDISER WITHOUT LOSS OF SENIORITY RIGHTS AND OTHER BENEFITS.3
FINALLY, THE HONORABLE COURT [OF APPEALS] COMMITTED A SERIOUS REVERSIBLE ERROR IN ITS DECISION WHEREIN IT DID NOT AWARD TO [AMPELOQUIO] MORAL AND EXEMPLARY DAMAGES.[12]
Sec. 8. Job contracting. - There is job contracting permissible under the Code if the following conditions are met:
(1) The contractor carries on an independent business and undertakes the contract work on his own account under his own responsibility according to his own manner and method, free from the control and direction of his employer or principal in all matters connected with the performance of the work except as to the results thereof; and
(2) The contractor has substantial capital or investment in the form of tools, equipment, machineries, work premises, and other materials which are necessary in the conduct of his business.
x x x [W]ithout loss of seniority rights and benefits, this does not necessarily mean equal or more rights than those employees hired by JAKA prior or subsequent to his reinstatement. The rule on how much pay a reinstated employee shall receive is governed by paragraph 3 of Article 223 of the Labor Code which provides as follows:x x x In any event, the decision of the Labor Arbiter reinstating a dismissed or separated employee, insofar as the reinstatement aspect is concerned, shall immediately be executory, even pending appeal. The employee shall either be admitted back to work under the same terms and conditions prevailing prior to his dismissal or separation or, at the option of the employer, merely reinstated in the payroll. The posting of a bond by the employer shall not stay the execution for reinstatement provided therein.When [Ampeloquio] was reinstated on August 6, 2004, he is entitled to receive a salary under the same terms and conditions prevailing prior to his dismissal, provided this complies with the minimum wage law prevailing at the time of reinstatement, in consonance to Article 99, 100 of P.D. No. 442, as amended. Thus, this Court finds and agrees with the computation by the NLRC of [Ampeloquio’s] wage rate. While he [Ampeloquio] may have been ordered reinstated to his former position without loss of seniority rights and benefits, this Court cannot agree [with] the strained interpretation given by [Ampeloquio] that since he is the most senior among his co-employees, he should be entitled to the same amount of wages and benefits as that being received by them. x x x Thus, when he was reinstated on August 6, 2004, the salary scale that governs shall be the minimum wage rate then prevailing or his actual daily wage rate, which ever is higher.[19]
x x x x