Marcopper Mining Corporation · G.R. L-51254

Petitioner: Marcopper Mining Corporation
Respondent: Ople
Citation: G.R. No. L-51254
Court: Supreme Court
Division: En Banc
Ponente: Fernando, J.
Decided: June 11, 1981

Whether employer is obligated to pay 13th month pay under Presidential Decree 851 despite existing collective bargaining agreement providing mid-year…

Summary

The Supreme Court dismissed Marcopper Mining Corporation's petition challenging the Deputy Minister of Labor's order requiring payment of 13th month pay under Presidential Decree 851. The company argued it was exempt due to existing CBA bonuses, but the Court held PD 851 creates a mandatory statutory obligation separate from contractual benefits. The Court distinguished that CBA bonuses are conditional supplements dependent on company profits, while 13th month pay is an absolute wage-related obligation for employees earning P1,000 or less monthly. The decision emphasized constitutional principles of social justice and labor protection, ruling that existing employee benefits cannot substitute for statutory 13th month pay requirements. The Court affirmed the Deputy Minister's jurisdiction and interpretation that contractual bonuses do not exempt employers from PD 851's coverage.

Related cases

Other Philippine cases on the same provisions and issues.

Dentech Manufacturing Corporation v. NLRC G.R. No. 81477
Alliance of Government Workers v. Minister of Labor and Employment G.R. No. L-60403
Danica Y. Pesongco, Danissa Y. Pesongco, And Lindzy Resurreccion v. Glorious Throne Data, Inc., Atty. Danilo V. Roleda, And Leo Hwang G.R. No. 256696
EIE Mart Korean Grocery v. Mente G.R. No. 207094
Brokenshire Memorial Hospital, Inc. v. The Honorable National Labor Relations Commission And The Brokenshire Memorial Hospital Employees And Workers Union-Ffw G.R. No. L-69741
San Miguel Corporation v. Inciong G.R. No. L-49774
Philippine Duplicators, Inc. Petitioner v. National Labor Relations Commission And Philippine Duplicators Employees Union-Tupas G.R. No. 110068
Davao Fruits Corporation v. Associated Labor Unions G.R. No. 85073
Central Azucarera de Tarlac v. CAT Labor Union-NLU G.R. No. 188949
Honda Phils., Inc. v. Samahan Ng Malayang Manggagawa Sa Honda G.R. No. 145561

Featured in research

In-depth Intellegal research that discusses this case.

13th Month Pay & Final Pay in the Philippines

Common questions

Plain-language Q&A on the issues in this case.

By Intellegal Editorial Board · June 11, 1981

Search Philippine case law on Intellegal →

AI-assisted case analysis — for research only. Verify against the official decision. A research aid, not legal advice; using this page creates no attorney-client relationship. For legal advice, consult a Philippine lawyer. Verify every holding and citation against the official decision (Supreme Court E-Library / Official Gazette) before relying on it.