Court of Appeals Upholds NLRC Decision Against Construction Firm in Worker’s Dismissal Case

The Court of Appeals in Manila has rejected an appeal from S.C. Megaworld Construction and Development Corp., upholding a ruling by the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) in a case concerning the termination of a worker during the Covid-19 crisis. The decision, penned by Associate Justice Pablito Perez of the CA’s 13th division on December 11, dismissed the construction company’s challenge against the NLRC’s earlier decision favoring carpenter Eduardo Bocboc. Bocboc, who had been employed by the company since 2012, was impacted by the work stoppage in 2020 due to the pandemic. Upon his return later that year, he was informed that no projects were available for him. The NLRC determined that Bocboc’s floating status, initially valid, extended beyond six months, effectively amounting to constructive dismissal. Consequently, the NLRC mandated the company to pay Bocboc PHP80,000 in separation pay and salary differentials. Bocboc’s subsequent appeal to the NLRC was successful, resulting in an award of back wages. The construction firm argued for dismissal of the case citing a lack of verification in the submitted documents, a requirement for legal pleadings to be considered valid. However, the Court of Appeals emphasized that technicalities should not obstruct the fair resolution of labor disputes, especially when strict application could harm workers.