Radio station sued for not giving minimum wage

CEBU, Philippines — Amid the celebration of the Cebu Press Freedom Week and the Broadcaster’s Month, another local radio station is facing a labor case before the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC).

Broadcaster Isabelo Mirasol Osmeña Sr., also known as Rico Osmeña, filed the case Monday against radio station dyCM, which is owned and operated by the Martinezes, a political clan in Bogo City, for allegedly paying their employees below minimum wage, non-payment of Social Security System, Philhealth and Pag-Ibig Fund premiums, and illegal dismissal with money claims.

“I filed the complaint not only for myself but (for) more than 20 employees of the radio station, whom for more than three years are being paid below minimum wage (the present is P366 daily) and do not have SSS, Philhealth and Pag-ibig,” Osmeña said.

Earlier this month, two technicians of dyRC had also filed a complaint against its management before the NLRC for allegedly paying them less than the minimum wage and for not remitting their monthly premiums and contributions.

Osmeña attached copies of the payroll of various dates and the cash voucher for August showing his salary was only P5,000.

Maria Clavel M. Herrera, in her memorandum dated July 11, 2017, has recognized Osmeña as a dyCM personnel.

Starting July 12, 2017, Herrera assigned Osmeña to handle field reporting as general beat, except Bureau of Customs.

He was required to submit at least eight field reports in the morning and six reports in the afternoon within the time allocated to all station-produced programs.

Osmeña was also handling the Capitol-paid radio program in dyCM.

However, on August 31, 2017, Station Manager Jasonjes Monteclar issued a memorandum stopping him from going on air for alleged violation of the Broadcast Code.

On July 12, 2017, Osmeña, together with broadcaster Arnel Bacalan of dyRC, had filed a complaint against Monteclar before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas for alleged conflict of interest.

Bacalan and Osmeña, in a letter-complaint, asked the anti-graft body to investigate Monteclar, who was then Capitol’s Public Information Officer, and Assistant PIO Jethro Malvin Bacolod for possible violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

On July 1, 2016, Governor Hilario Davide III appointed Monteclar as PIO and Bacolod as the latter’s Private Secretary II.

Monteclar is co-terminus with the appointing authority, while Bacolod’s contract as a casual employee is renewable every six months.

Although Monteclar is already working at the Capitol, he was allegedly still receiving the biggest pay cheque among dyCM personnel, as shown in several payroll documents of the company.

Osmeña and Bacalan alleged Monteclar and Bacolod are receiving commissions from all programs accredited by the Provincial Government of Cebu for broadcast purposes in dyCM, and other media outlets.

Last August 15, Monteclar already resigned as Capitol PIO and continued as station manager of dyCM. (FREEMAN)