All the way to the Supreme Court

CONRADO A. Lim courageously fought HMR Philippines in a court battle that took him all the way from a labor arbiter to the Supreme Court.

In a decision written by Associate Justice Jose M. Catral Mendoza, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Lim. Associate Justices Antonio T. Carpio, Presbiterio J. Velasco Jr., chairperson, SC Third Division; Martin S. Villarama Jr. and Marvic Mario Victor F. Leonen agreed with him.

The SC “partially granted the March 30, 2012 decision of the Court of Appeals, in - versed and set aside. Respondent HMR Philippines, Inc. is ordered to pay petitioner Conrado A. Lim:

( 1) back wages computed from the time the petitioner was illegally dismissed on Feb. 3, 2001 up to his actual reinstatement, with a monthly base pay in the amount of Pl5,125;

( 2) the unpaid 10% annual salary increase from P49,650;

( 3) 13th month pay;

( 4) vacation pay in accordance with the personnel policy handbook;

( 5) the cash value of his unused sick leaves;

( 6) holiday pay, provided that the labor arbiter finds that such is not yet included in the base pay;

( 7) moral damages in the amount of P50,000;

the amount of P20,000;

( 9) attorney’s fees equivalent to 10% of the total amount due to the petitioner; and

( 10) legal interest of 12% per annum of the total monetary awards computed from July 27, 2007 to June 30, 2013, and 6% per annum from July 1, 2013 until their full satisfaction.

The labor arbiter is ordered to compute the total monetary benefits awarded and due the petitioner in accordance with this decision.”

Money claims

The case filed by Lim against HMR Philippines involved “the computation of the backwages of an illegally dismissed employee ,” according to the Supreme Court.

Court records traced back sued HMR for illegal dismissal and money claims against