I finally
got to wear my formal attire under the piercing Quezon City heat.
Atty. De Vera and I visited NLRC for a mediation on an a case decided way back
in 2006. The merits were interesting. The illegal dismissal case all started
with two cans of dalandan and it all ballooned into a million peso damage suit.
The decisions of the labor arbiter and the NLRC was all in favor of the worker
and them come together to settle. But this day’s story is not about the case but
the whole experience I had waiting for our case to be mediated.
I
was able to observe cases prior to ours. This one in particular, I can tell you
the feeling there was raw and intense. For the first part, there was this lawyer
trying to settle with his client’s worker. The employer wasn't there and from
the looks of it, has no intention to face the guy. You can see it in the laborer’s
eyes. The mix of anger and frustration can be felt even observing from afar. His
eyes then teared up eventually. He has this
shrill in his voice that he strives to control because emotions might consume
him and compromise the whole thing. And it ended with no settlement.
What
I’ve observed is the sheer rawness of the emotion that plays in these mediations. I can just imagine the years of close relationship between them and
that was no ordinary relationship. This kind entails confidence, entails mutual
benefit and support, entails mentorship as well. Sounds familiar right? It is
short of marriage but far from acquaintances. And all of the sudden it is shattered
with feelings of deep contempt towards one another. And the bargaining power
always tips in favor of the rich employer.
This
is the struggle of the worker and this experience has reinforced my view that indeed
for the poor who struggles to find regular work , the loss of a job through
unjust causes is equivalent to the loss of their chance to pursue their own measure
of happiness. It is an attack to an inherent right needless to say.
Labor
Law has become a lot more meaningful and interesting.
3 comments:
Yes, I agree..the narrative description of the worker's emotions is captiviting! Two entries in a row for a day, quite awesome!
Thank you :)) i felt the need to write
Your welcome,seems both are indeed timely.
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