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.
Get a cited, plain-language answer from 184,000+ statutes and decisions — free, no sign-up.
When Loss of Trust Fails: Understanding Illegal Dismissal in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when employers face liability for illegal dismissal and wage claims of security guards under labor law.
Regular vs Project Employees: Understanding Employee Status in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the difference between regular and project employees, and the legal tests that determine employee status.
Due Process in Employee Dismissal: Why Procedure Matters Even With Just Cause — Philippine Labor Law
Philippine labor law requires both substantive and procedural due process in dismissal. Even with just cause, failure to observe procedure can make termination illegal.
When "Independent Contractor" Labels Fail: The Four-Fold Test in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine courts look beyond contract labels to determine employer-employee relationships. Learn the four-fold test from Insular Life v. NLRC.
Volunteer or Employee? The Control Test in Philippine Labor Law
Learn how the control test determines employee status in the Philippines, using the landmark Filipinas Broadcasting v. NLRC case.
Philippine Labor Law: Workplace Venue Not Always Mandatory for Labor Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling: NLRC venue rules are permissive, not mandatory. Worker convenience and substantial justice can override workplace location.
When AWOL Is Not Grounds for Dismissal: Philippine Labor Law Explained
Philippine Supreme Court explains when absence without leave (AWOL) is not valid grounds for dismissal, and what employers must prove.
Can an Employee Refuse to Work? Understanding Constructive Dismissal in the Philippines
Explore when refusing work is legal in the Philippines, focusing on constructive dismissal, employee rights, and employer obligations under labor law.
Employee Dismissal: Proving Misconduct Requires Solid Evidence in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on Buhisan v. NLRC: dismissal for misconduct needs substantial evidence, not mere suspicion or affidavits.
Abandonment vs Illegal Dismissal: Due Process in Philippine Labor Law
Understanding when failure to report for work is abandonment or illegal dismissal, and what due process requires in termination cases.
Successor Liability in Philippine Labor Law: When a New Company Inherits Old Debts
When a new company takes over a business, it may inherit the old firm's labor liabilities. The Alfante v. NLRC ruling explains.
Strikes in the Philippines: Legal Requirements and Consequences for Labor Disputes
Understand the legal framework for strikes in the Philippines, including requirements, prohibited acts, and consequences for illegal strikes under Philippine labor law.
Project Employee vs Regular Employee: Security of Tenure Under Philippine Labor Law
Learn how the Supreme Court distinguishes project from regular employees and protects workers' security of tenure under Article 280 of the Labor Code.
Perfecting Appeals and Timelines in Philippine Labor Cases: The PAL v. Brillantes Guide
Learn how the Supreme Court resolved PAL v. Brillantes, balancing strict appeal timelines, labor law, and equitable justice.
Employee vs Independent Contractor: Key Factors in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the control test distinguishing employees from independent contractors in labor disputes.
When Can Employees Demand Bonuses: Vested Rights in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine law on bonuses: when they are demandable, vested rights, and what employers must know.
Due Process in Employee Dismissal: What Employers Need to Know in the Philippines
Learn the essentials of procedural and substantive due process in Philippine labor law, including key rules and practical compliance tips for employers.
Illegal Dismissal: Proving Just Cause and Due Process in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Airlines v. NLRC explains the employer's burden of proof in illegal dismissal cases and the twin requirements of notice and hearing.
Due Process in Employee Dismissal: A Philippine Labor Law Perspective
Understand the two-part due process rule in Philippine labor law—substantive and procedural—and the consequences of non-compliance, explained through Bondoc v. NLRC.
Compromise Agreements and Quitclaims: When Are They Valid in Philippine Labor Law?
The Supreme Court explains when compromise agreements and quitclaims bind workers—and when courts will set them aside as unconscionable.
When Dismissal Is Too Harsh: Proportionality in Philippine Labor Law
The Supreme Court rules that dismissal can be disproportionate to an employee's offense, awarding separation pay instead of reinstatement.
Solidary Liability Holding Principals Accountable FOR Wage Violations OF Contractors IN THE Philippines
Learn how Philippine labor law holds principals solidarily liable for wage violations of their contractors and the rules on valid dismissal.
When Can You Be Fired for Absences? Understanding Abandonment in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine law requires more than just absences to prove abandonment. Learn the two elements employers must show to validly dismiss.
Separation Pay in the Philippines: When Is It Required?
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when separation pay is legally required—and when it is not—in this plain-language guide to labor law.