The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) welcomes the recent Supreme Court (SC) decision declaring that demotion, verbal abuse, and indifferent behaviour of an employer which force employees to resign constitute constructive illegal dismissal.

The SC ruled that constructive dismissal occurs when an employee feels compelled to resign due to an employer creating unbearable working conditions.

The Commission believes that this ruling reaffirms the protection of employees from coercive work environments and underscores the accountability of employers who subject their staff to hostile treatment.

Article XIII, Section 3 of the Philippine Constitution guarantees workers’ right to security of tenure, humane conditions of work, and just compensation. Furthermore, Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states that everyone has the right to just and favourable conditions of work. Constructive dismissal violates these principles, as it subjects workers to intolerable working conditions that strip them of their dignity and job security.

The CHR commends the judiciary for upholding the protection of workers’ rights, and we echo the Court’s message that no employee should be forced to choose between their livelihood and their dignity. This ruling serves as a strong reminder that all workers, as right-holders, deserve to work in environments free from abuse, coercion, and hostility.

The Commission, as the country’s national human rights institution, stands firm in its commitment to championing the rights of workers and will continue to advocate for policies and actions that ensure respect for human dignity in the workplace. ###