​People's Broadcasting vs. Secretary, May 8, 2009 and March 6, 2012

Facts:
 Private respondent Jandeleon Juezan filed a complaint against petitioner with DOLE Regional Office No. VII, Cebu City, for illegal deduction, among others. The DOLE Regional Director found that private respondent was an employee of petitioner, and was entitled to his money claims.
 
However, People’s Broadcasting sought reconsideration of the Director’s Order, but failed. The Acting DOLE Secretary also dismissed People’s Broadcasting’s appeal. In the CA, the Court found that there was no employer-employee relationship between petitioner and private respondent. It was held that while the DOLE may make a determination of the existence of an employer-employee relationship, this function could not be co-extensive with the visitorial and enforcement power provided in Art. 128(b) of the Labor Code, as amended by RA 7730. The National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) was held to be the primary agency in determining the existence of an employer-employee relationship. This was the interpretation of the Court of the clause "in cases where the relationship of employer-employee still exists" in Art. 128(b).

Issue:
Whether or not DOLE has the power to determine employer-employee relationship exists.

​Held:
Yes, the DOLE must have the power to determine whether or not an employer-employee relationship exists, and from there to decide whether or not to issue compliance orders in accordance with Art. 128(b) of the Labor Code, as amended by RA 7730.
 
The DOLE, in determining the existence of an employer-employee relationship, has a ready set of guidelines to follow, the same guide the courts themselves use. The elements to determine the existence of an employment relationship are: (1) the selection and engagement of the employee; (2) the payment of wages; (3) the power of dismissal; (4) the employer’s power to control the employee’s conduct. The use of this test is not solely limited to the NLRC. The DOLE Secretary, or his or her representatives, can utilize the same test, even in the course of inspection, making use of the same evidence that would have been presented before the NLRC.
 
If the DOLE makes a finding that there is an existing employer-employee relationship, it takes cognizance of the matter, to the exclusion of the NLRC. The DOLE would have no jurisdiction only if the employer-employee relationship has already been terminated, or it appears, upon review, that no employer-employee relationship existed in the first place.
However, this is not to say that the determination by the DOLE is beyond question or review.1avvphi1 Suffice it to say, there are judicial remedies such as a petition for certiorari under Rule 65 that may be availed of, should a party wish to dispute the findings of the DOLE.