The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered GMA Network, Inc. to reinstate 30 cameramen and assistant cameramen who were illegally dismissed by the media giant in 2013.
The decision of Supreme Court Third Division also directed the network to pay back wages, allowances, and other benefits of the employees from the date of dismissal to that of their reinstatement.
“The Court also gave weight to petitioners’ arguments that they were regular employees having performed functions that were necessary and desirable to GMA’s usual business as a television and broadcasting company,” the HIgh Court stated.
The SC has also told the network “to pay each of the petitioners’ attorney’s fees equivalent to 10 percent of total monetary award accruing to each of them.”
“The Court held that petitioners are regular employees and enjoy the right to security of tenure… Thus, they may only be terminated for just or authorized cause, and after due notice and hearing,” it further provided.
The SC has already tapped the Labor Arbiter to compute back wages and other monetary awards for the employees. – PTV News
