Drayber, hindi maituturing na ‘independent contractor’

ni Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta @Magtanong Kay Attorney | May 25, 2024

Dear Chief Acosta,

Pumasok ako bilang isang drayber ng isang kumpanya. Binigyan ako ng nakatalagang sasakyan na iningatan ko. Wala akong partikular na amo o biyahe, ngunit ako ay nakatalaga sa iba’t ibang mga biyahe depende sa pangangailangan. Nagkaroon kami ng problema dahil gusto nilang pumirma ako ng panibagong kontrata kung saan sumasang-ayon ako na hindi ako isang regular na empleyado. Kinalaunan ay tinanggal ako sa trabaho dahil hindi ko ito pinirmahan. Agad akong lumapit sa National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) at noong nagharap kami ng aking employer, sinabi nila na isa akong ‘independent contractor.’ Tama ba ito? -- Faith

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Dear Faith,

Ang iyong katanungan ay sinagot ng Korte Suprema sa kasong ABS-CBN Corporation vs. Jaime C. Concepcion, G.R. No. 230576, 05 October 2020, sa panulat ni Kagalang-galang na Kasamang Mahistrado Rodil V. Zalameda kung saan inilahad ng Korte Suprema ang depinisyon ng isang independent contractor. Ayon sa Korte Suprema:

“ABS-CBN insists that respondent is a talent who works as OB van driver and not a regular employee but an independent contractor. This Court however, is not convinced.

Preliminarily, it is settled that the employer has the burden to prove that a person whose services it pays for is an independent contractor rather than a regular employee. Jurisprudential law has recognized another kind of independent contractor - those individuals with unique skills and talents that set them apart from ordinary employees. In the recent case of Paragele v. GMA Network, Inc., this Court’s Division emphasized that in order to be considered independent contractors and not employees of GMA Network, it must be shown that those cameramen were hired because of their unique skills and talents, and that GMA Network did not exercise control over the means and methods of their work.

Jurisprudence has adhered to the four-fold test in determining the existence of an employer-employee relationship. These are: (1) the selection and engagement of the employee; (2) the payment of wages; (3) the power of dismissal; and (4) the power to control the employee’s conduct, or the so-called control test.”

Sang-ayon sa Korte Suprema, isa sa mga uri ng independent contractor ay mga indibidwal na may natatanging kakayahan o talento na siyang naghihiwalay sa kanila sa tipikal na empleyado.   Gayunpaman, hindi lang dahil may espesyal na kakayahan o talento ang isang indibidwal ay maaari na itong ikonsiderang independent contractor. Tinitingnan din kung ito ang pinakadahilan kung bakit kinuha ang isang indibidwal. Dagdag ng Korte Suprema:

“Petitioner’s asseveration rests on flimsy ground. Driving an OB van which is equipped with specialized equipment does not make the driver a standout. Parenthetically, ABS-CBN took pains in discussing what other workers do, such as audioman or sound engineer, cameraman, gaffer, and lightman but failed to discuss the nature of the job of an OB Van Driver, except that it includes the handling of the OB Van.

ABS-CBN has not disputed that at the time respondent was hired by the Human Resource Department, his driving skills were limited and that he had no knowledge in operating a generator set. It was the network which provided him the necessary trainings and seminars to develop his skills. Moreover, the tools and instrumentalities needed by respondent for his work is provided to him - the OB Van and the generator set. ABS-CBN could also assign him to any show or programs where the production group would need his services.

It does not escape our attention that respondent has no power to bargain and negotiate for his fee. The power to bargain talent fees way above the salary scales of ordinary employees is a circumstance indicative of an independent contractual relationship. That ABS-CBN classified him as a talent is of no moment and does not make him an independent contractor. It is not the will or word of the employer which determines the nature of employment of an employee but the nature of the activities performed by such employee in relation to the particular business or trade of the employer. Hence, not being an independent contractor, respondent is necessarily an employee of ABS-CBN.”

Samakatuwid, ang isang independent contractor ay nagtatamasa ng kalayaan mula sa kontrol at pangangasiwa ng kanyang amo. Sa kabilang banda, ang isang empleyado ay napapailalim sa kapangyarihan ng kanyang amo na kontrolin ang mga pamamaraan kung saan o paano isasagawa at maisakatuparan ang kanyang trabaho.

Sa iyong kaso, ang pag-iingat at pagmamaneho ng sasakyan ay ginawa mo bilang isang drayber.  Ang pagiging isang drayber ay hindi kakaibang kakayahan o talento na maaaring maging basehan upang ikaw ay maituring na independent contractor. Kaya naman, maaari kang makonsidera na isang regular na empleyado ng iyong dating employer.

Sana ay nabigyan namin ng linaw ang iyong katanungan. Ang payong aming ibinigay ay base lamang sa mga impormasyon na iyong inilahad at maaaring magbago kung mababawasan o madaragdagan ang mga detalye ng iyong salaysay.

Maraming salamat sa iyong patuloy na pagtitiwala.