The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) welcomed the recent Supreme Court (SC) ruling on classifying unbearable working conditions by employers as constructive illegal dismissal.
In September this year, the SC ruled that unbearable working conditions by employers include: demotion, verbal abuse, and indifferent behavior towards employees. According to the High Court, such actions force an employee to resign, which constitutes illegal dismissal.
The CHR believes that the ruling affirms the protection of employees from coercive work environments and underscores the accountability of employers who deliberately put their staff to hostile treatment.
Moreover, the CHR cited Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which states that everyone has the right to just and favourable conditions of work; Adding that Article XIII, Section 3 of the Philippine Constitution affirms workers of their right to security of tenure, humane working conditions, and just compensation.
With these in mind, the CHR argued that constructive dismissal violates such principles, as it strips employees of their dignity and job security, as it subjects them to intolerable working conditions.
“The CHR commends the judiciary for upholding the protection of workers’ rights, and we echo the Court’s message that no employee should be forced to choose between their livelihood and their dignity. This ruling serves as a strong reminder that all workers, as right-holders, deserve to work in environments free from abuse, coercion, and hostility,” the CHR concluded.
