Restrict Employees from Entering Company Premises

sir/madam...i manage a family-owned sugarland business estate which employs seasonal and regular workers in bacolod. during the off season, i am in manila and only regular employees are left for maintenance and regular work in preparation for the next harvest season.

my uncle, one of the co-owners and former administrators of the estate but is not currently active in its operations, does not like two of the regular employees because they would not take orders from him but only from me. one is the tractor operator who is very essential during the harvest and planting season, the other one is the livestock and garage maintenance man. he padlocked the gate of the work premises and with the assistance of his personal worker, only allows chosen employees to get in, barring the 2 that he does not like.

what are the rights of the two employees? what should i, as manager and co-owner of the estate do in order to allow the employees to come in? what documents should be prepared? the employees fear they will be brought to the barangay hall for questioning if they insist on entering.

thank you.

they should not force their way in. I recommend you intercede, but manager may get trumped by owner.

being forced to stay outside can be considered constructive illegal dismissal.