SC blinks on salary scheme for bus drivers

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court has withdrawn a status quo ante order it issued a day earlier that stopped the implementation of a fixed salary scheme for bus drivers.

After a special en banc session on Wednesday, July 11, the high court ruled to “defer” the enforcement of the said order, which it issued July 10.

The order stopped the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) from putting in place a new salary scheme for bus operators.

SC acting spokeswoman Ma. Victoria Gleoresty Guerra said the SC voted unanimously on the deferral. Only Justices Lucas Bersamin and Roberto Abad were not present in the special en banc session.

Guerra clarified though that the new SC resolution did not specify the reason for the high court’s flip-flop.

She said the SC decided to instead ask DOLE and LTFRB to file their comments on the case within 10 days.

The assailed salary scheme includes a minimum regular salary, commission and benefits such as 12 regular holidays with pay, one rest day a week, overtime pay, night shift pay and 13-month pay.

The fixed salary scheme, under DOLE Department Order No. 118-12 Series of 2012, took effect on July 1.

The Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines, Southern Luzon Bus Operators Association Inc, Inter City Bus Operators Association, and City of San Jose del Monte Bus Operators Association asked the SC to stop the DOLE from enforcing the new system in a petition filed on July 4.

The bus operators said the new salary scheme violates the equal protection clause because it will “cover only Metro Manila buses and not the entire transport sector throughout the country.” – Rappler.com

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