The Supreme Court held that employers bear the burden of proving wage payments and cannot rely on dubious or forged payroll records to deny overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) their rightful compensation. This decision underscores the judiciary’s commitment to protecting the rights of OFWs, who are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, by ensuring that employers are held accountable for fulfilling their contractual obligations and cannot evade responsibility through fraudulent documentation.

Justice Denied: Can Employers Evade Wage Obligations with Fabricated Records?

This case revolves around Stephanie A. Maitim, Margie M. Amban, and Flora Q. Mahinay (Maitim, et al.), who were hired by Teknika Skills and Trade Services, Inc. (TSTSI) to work as nursing aides in Saudi Arabia. However, upon arrival, they were forced to sign new contracts with lower pay and longer hours. When they sought redress for underpayment, the employer, Arabian Gulf Company for Maintenance and Contracting (AGCMC), presented payroll records that the employees claimed were forged. The central legal question is whether the employer adequately proved payment of wages and benefits, or whether the presented records were indeed fabricated to avoid fulfilling contractual obligations.

The Labor Arbiter (LA) initially ruled in favor of Maitim et al., finding evidence of underpayment but denying claims for food allowance and overtime pay. Both parties appealed to the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), which partly granted Maitim et al.’s appeal, finding the employer’s payroll records of dubious authenticity. The NLRC highlighted discrepancies and inconsistencies in the payrolls, including identical signatures across different pay periods and the presence of a former coworker’s signature on payrolls after she had already left the country. TSTSI et al. then appealed to the Court of Appeals (CA).

The CA reversed the NLRC’s decision, ruling that the payroll records were admissible because Maitim et al. supposedly admitted the signatures were theirs. The CA stated that it was incumbent upon Maitim et al. to adduce countervailing evidence and prove the nonpayment of their wages and other entitlements. Maitim et al. then filed a motion for reconsideration, arguing that they never admitted to the authenticity of the signatures and that the CA’s decision was rushed and deprived them of due process. The CA denied the motion, prompting Maitim et al. to elevate the case to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court began its analysis by emphasizing the procedural irregularities in the CA’s handling of the case. It was noted that the CA issued its decision without waiting for Maitim et al. to file their comment, which they were required to do per the CA’s own order. This procedural lapse raised serious concerns about due process and the fairness of the proceedings. The Court also disagreed with the CA’s assessment that Maitim et al.’s motion for reconsideration was a pro forma motion intended to delay the proceedings, emphasizing that the motion was filed to address the CA’s complete deprivation of due process.

Turning to the substantive issues, the Supreme Court reiterated the principle that in cases involving the alleged underpayment of wages and benefits, the burden of proving payment rests on the employer. This principle is rooted in the fact that employers have custody and control of all pertinent personnel files, payrolls, records, and other similar documents. The Court then examined the payroll records presented by the employer and found them to be highly suspect and unreliable. As the Court emphasized, the determination of AGCMC’s compliance with its contractual obligations lies with its own records.

“In cases that involve the alleged underpayment of wages and other legally or contractually mandated benefits, the burden to prove payment rests on the employer because all pertinent personnel files, payrolls, records, remittances and other similar documents are in the custody and control of the employer.”

Specifically, the Court noted that the signature portions of the payrolls for certain months were completely identical, including the placement, markings, and erasures. These observations cast a cloud of uncertainty on the authenticity of the payroll records and rendered them inadmissible as evidence of payment. The Court stated that nothing in the records supports the CA’s conclusion that Maitim et al. admitted that their respective signatures in the payroll records adduced by TSTSI et al. belonged to them. Since the payroll records were deemed unreliable and the employer failed to present any other credible evidence of payment, the Court ruled that Maitim et al. were entitled to their claims for salary differentials, vacation leave pay, and food allowance.

Regarding the claim for overtime pay, the Supreme Court acknowledged that normally, the burden shifts to the employee to prove entitlement to overtime pay for work beyond regular hours. However, the Court recognized the difficulties faced by OFWs in producing such evidence, particularly in cases where employers fail to keep accurate records or actively prevent employees from documenting their working hours. Additionally, the Court pointed out that the daily time records (DTRs) produced by the employer were incomplete, handwritten by an unidentified person, and not signed or acknowledged by the employees, further undermining their credibility.

“The claim of overseas workers against foreign employers could not be subjected to same rules of evidence and procedure easily obtained by complainants whose employers are locally based. While normally we would require the presentation of payrolls, daily time records and similar documents before allowing claims for overtime pay, in this case, that would be requiring the near-impossible.”

Given the circumstances of the case and the dubious nature of the employer’s records, the Court concluded that Maitim et al. were entitled to overtime pay as well. Furthermore, the Supreme Court found that Maitim et al. were entitled to moral and exemplary damages, as well as attorney’s fees. The Court reasoned that the employer had acted in bad faith by breaching their contractual obligations and attempting to evade responsibility through the presentation of forged payroll records. Moral damages are recoverable if the party from whom it is claimed has acted fraudulently or in bad faith or in wanton disregard of his or her contractual obligations. The employer’s actions justified the award of moral and exemplary damages to compensate the employees for the emotional distress and to deter similar misconduct in the future.

The Court also emphasized the joint and solidary liability of the corporate officers of TSTSI, the recruitment agency, for the judgment awards. This liability is in accordance with the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, which holds recruitment agencies and their officers jointly and severally liable for claims arising from the overseas employment of Filipino workers. As the Court explained, joint and solidary liability for the judgment award does not attach solely upon Cesar E. Pabellano as TSTSI’s President, rather, it encompasses all corporate officers of TSTSI.

FAQs

In conclusion, the Supreme Court’s decision reaffirms the importance of protecting the rights of OFWs and holding employers accountable for fulfilling their contractual obligations. It emphasizes the burden on employers to prove wage payments with credible evidence and underscores the courts’ willingness to scrutinize payroll records for signs of forgery or manipulation.

For inquiries regarding the application of this ruling to specific circumstances, please contact ASG Law through contact or via email at frontdesk@asglawpartners.com.

Disclaimer: This analysis is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific legal guidance tailored to your situation, please consult with a qualified attorney.
Source: STEPHANIE A. MAITIM, ET AL. VS. TEKNIKA SKILLS AND TRADE SERVICES, INC., G.R. No. 240143, January 15, 2025