Losing your job can be one of the toughest experiences in life, and it’s even more frustrating if you feel you were unfairly dismissed. In the Philippines, workers have the right to security of tenure, meaning you can’t just be fired without a valid reason. If you believe you’ve been dismissed unjustly, your termination may be considered illegal under the law, and there are ways to challenge it. Let’s go through what illegal termination means, your rights, and what you can do if you find yourself in this situation.

Forced resignation is a common concern among employees in the Philippines, especially when workplace relationships sour or when employers attempt to avoid the formal process of termination. Many employees ask: Can an employer legally force an employee to resign?

The short answer is no. Under Philippine labor law, a forced or coerced resignation is not allowed and is treated as constructive dismissal, which is a form of illegal dismissal .

This article explains what forced resignation is, why it is illegal, how Philippine courts assess it, and what remedies are available to affected employees.