3 Arrastre vs. Boclot Casual

Geling, Ma. Kristiana M. 3HR1 Pier 8 Arrastre and Stevedoring Services Inc. vs. Boclot [G.R. No. 173849. Sept. 28, 2007] Facts: Petitioner Pier 8 Arrastre and Stevedoring Services, Inc. (PASSI) is a domestic corporation engaged in the business of providing Arrastre and stevedoring servicesat Pier 8 in the Manila North Harbor. PASSI has been rendering Arrastre and stevedoring services at the port area since 1974 and employs stevedores who assist in the loading and unloading of cargoes to and from the vessels. Boclot was hired by PASSI to perform the functions of a stevedore. Later on, Boclot filed Complaint with the Labor Arbiter claiming regularization; payment of service incentive leave and 13th month pays; moral, exemplary and actual damages; and attorney’s fees. He alleged that he was hired by PASSI in October 1999 and was issued company ID No. 304, a PPA Pass and SSS documents. In fact, respondent contended that he became a regular employee by April 2000, since it was his sixth continuous month in service in PASSI’s regular course of business. He argued on the basis of Articles 280 and 281 of the Labor Code. He maintains that under paragraph 2 of Article 280, he should be deemed a regular employee having rendered at least one year of service with the company. ISSUE Whether or not he has attained regular status DECISION Yes. The primary standard, therefore, of determining a regular employment is the reasonable connection between the particular activity performed by the employee in relation to the usual business or trade of the employer. The test is whether the former is usually necessary or desirable in the usual business or trade of the employer. The connection can be determined by considering the nature of the work performed and its relation to the scheme of the particular business or trade in its entirety. No doubt, serving as a stevedore, respondent performs tasks necessary or desirable to the usual business of petitioners. However, it should be deemed part of the nature ofhis work that he can only work as a stevedore in the absence of the employee regularly employed for the very same function. Also, if the employee has been performing the job for at least one year, even if the performance is not continuous or merely intermittent, the law deems the repeated and continuing need for its performance as sufficient evidence of the necessity if not indispensability of that activity to the business Article II of its CBA. Under a union-shop agreement, although nonmembers may be hired, an employee is required to become a union member after a certain period, in order to retain employment. This requirement applies to present and future employees. The same article of the CBA stipulates that employment in PASSI cannot be obtained without prior membership in the union. Hence, applying the foregoing provisions of the CBA, respondent should be considered a regular employee after six months of accumulated service. Having rendered 228.5 days, or eight months of service to petitioners since 1999, then respondent is entitled to regularization by virtue of the said CBA provisions.