Charles Teves
According to P3PWD Party-List Representative Rowena Guanzon, actress Ruffa Gutierrez has lost in a labor complaint filed by two of her former domestic workers.
These workers claimed they were terminated without receiving their due salaries.
Guanzon expressed gratitude on Twitter on April 1st to those who supported the case of the two women from Negros Occidental. They sought her help in filing the complaint against Gutierrez. She also sent a video message to the actress, urging her to resolve the case.
Salamat sa lahat na tumulong sa dalaqang kasambahay na taga Negros Occidental lalo na sa mga abogado #p3pwdatyourservice pic.twitter.com/VHCNxaPmRR
— Rowena Guanzon (@rowena_guanzon) April 2, 2023
“Maging leksyon ito sa mga amo na ituring naman pong tao na may damdamin yung mga kasambahay ninyo. Sana po ay maayos na ito. Nananawagan ako kay Ruffa Gutierrez na ayusin na niya ito, i-settle na nya. Ang gusto lang naman ng mga kasambahay na ito ay makapagtrabaho ng maayos, at ituring ng maayos,” she said.
“Kakampi ako ng mga inaapi, ng mga walang kalaban laban. Mga kaibigan, nanalo sa labor case ang dalawang kasambahay lanan kay Ruffa G. #p3pwdatyourservice,” she added.
Her former domestic workers filed a labor complaint against Gutierrez with the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) in July 2022, alleging they were terminated from her Ayala Alabang home without salaries.
Guanzon brought attention to the case when she shared a screenshot of the “Notice of Conference” on social media, despite Gutierrez’s legal counsel dismissing the claims as “black propaganda.”
Ogie Diaz also shared a photo of the decision from the Department of Labor and Employment through his Showbiz Update vlog, uploaded on March 31st, 2022.
The decision ordered Gutierrez and her former house helpers to compromise, but this was not achieved. Gutierrez’s camp did not appeal the decision. She was ordered to pay P13,299.92, including unpaid wages and pro-rated 13th-month pay, within 10 days.
“Nanalo ‘yung dalawang kasambahay na pinaalis ni Ruffa Gutierrez sa kanyang Alabang house at nandoon ‘yung dalawa sa gate ng Ayala Alabang village. Noong September 2022 ay sinubukang pag-ayusin sina Ruffa at ang dalawang kasambahay pero parehong ayaw ng compromise kaya tinuloy ang kaso,” he said.
Diaz expressed, “Kilala ko naman si Ruffa. In fairness, mabait naman ang batang ‘yan. Ilang beses na kaming nagkakausap niyan at nakikita kong mabait si Ruffa pero siyempre, hindi naman ako ‘yung naging kasambahay. Sila ‘yung merong experience o kuwento about Ruffa at ngayon ay nabigyan ng pansin ng DOLE.”
“And I’m sure si Ruffa ay tutugon [naman] sa desisyon na ito at maliit na bagay at maliit na halaga para hindi tuparin ni Ruffa ang kanyang obligasyon doon sa dalawang kasambahay,” he added.
The talent manager also expressed the desire that the outcome of the labor complaint would serve as a reminder for Gutierrez to improve her treatment of her domestic workers.
“Lesson na rin ito sa lahat maging sa akin na ang pag-trato sa mga kasambahay ay para ring kapamilya. At siyempre, sa mga kasambahay kapag itinuring kayong kapamilya, patunayan ninyo na kahit hindi kayo magkadugo, alam ninyong maasahan kayo ng inyong mga employer sa lahat ng bagay lalo na ang tiwala huwag ninyong sasayangin,” he concluded.
