6 month worth of salary as penalty for not completing 2 year contract

Benjamin Villanueva
is in United States

Una, walang kontrata na pinapirmahan sa akin bago ako applyan ng EPass sa work ko, tapos nung na-approve na ung pass ko, pinapirma ako nang contract na nagsabing kapag di ko nakumpleto ang 2 years contract sa company ay magbabayad ako ng 6months salary ko sa kanila, pinapirma sa akin ang contract ko nung araw na nakuha ko ung pass ko at nagstart ako magwork sa company nila. Then, after 2 months, performance issue at dahil di maganda ang relation ko sa CEO nila, ipinarecommend ko sa PM ko na ipaterminate nlang ako dahil sa ganung dahilan, pinakita ko pa sa kanya ung contract ko at tingin ko naintindihan naman nya ung sitwasyon ko, inadvise nya na since probationary period palang ako, the contract will be null and void so ipagpasa nalang nya ako ng resignation letter. nung nagpasa na ako ng resignation letter sa HR namin, ipinakita pa din sa akin ung contract na magbabayad ako ng 6times salary ko sa kanila kasi dahil sa contract na un, at ung PM ko naghugas kamay kasi iba daw ung naintindihan nya sa contract ko, ang ginawa ng PM ko instead na magbayad ako ng 6months, 1month nalang daw ung babayaran ko, which is taliwas dun sa unang usapan namin at pinapirma na naman ako. resigned na po ako and tendering my 30 days d2 sa SG, binigyan na nila ako ng visit pass. ang tanong ko po, pwede ko po bang ipawalang bisa ung napirmahang kong contract sa kanila kasi unang una, di nila sakin pinaalam before hand ung 6months penalty before nila ako applyan ng pass, tapos ung PM ko akala ko he understand my side pero ang nangyari ipinahamak pa din ako at pinagbayad. pwede ko nman silang bayaran pero I'm also seeking legal advice kasi baka may ganito ng kaso na nangyari sa SG and I would like to know kung tama ung pinapagawa nila saken. maraming salamat po and more power!

 

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Adelaimar C Arias-Jose
is a Legal expert in the Philippines
Direct hire ka ano? Hindi ka umalis sa Pinas ng mayroong POEA-approved contract? This is the disadvantage if you leave the country and work under a direct hire scheme. Kasi nga, wala kang protection.

In the first place, you should not have applied for an employment pass without first having known what the terms and conditions of employment are. Kasi, if after you have applied and received an E-pass, tapos saka ka pa lang pinapirma ng contract of employment, wala ka nang magagawa -- you have to accept the contract of employment kahit na hindi favorable sa iyo ang terms.

Your contract of employment is actually a contract of adhesion -- wala kang magagawa kundi pumirma sa contract, at tatanggapin mo na lamang ang mga terms nito. Kaya ka pinapipirma ng iba pang papeles matapos kang mag-resign at papagbayarin ka na lang ng one-month's salary, kasi, alam nila na sa husgado, maski sa Singapore, unconscionable ang penalty na six months.

You should ask the Labor Attache at the Philippine Embassy for help. Or, you can go and ask for information at the Labor Office of the government of Singapore.

About the author

Adelaimar C Arias-Jose

I am a graduate of the UP College of Law. Member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines since 1995. I am currently involved in private practice in criminal, civil and labor law.
Profession: Lawyer
Adelaimar C. Arias-Jose
Office Address: #34 St. Michael Street
Philippines , Manila , Makati
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