EXCLUSIVE: Angel’s Burger says internal probe found no labor violations

Company says Capiz branch complied with wage and restroom requirements after viral TikTok claims.

Angel’s Burger staff have denied claims of labor violations at one of its branches, four weeks after a viral TikTok video sparked complaints about the working conditions of its crew.

After saying it would investigate the allegations, Atty. Gabriel Ablola, counsel for Angel’s Burger Franchising Food Corporation, told radar Business exclusively that the company had completed its internal investigation and found no labor violations at the concerned branch.

The concerned branch was identified as a location in Capiz province.

“We interviewed all the crew members at that location. They confirmed that they were never interviewed by the original poster and never consented to having their photos taken or published online,” Ablola said in an email to radar Business.

Based on the company’s internal investigation, “the store was found to be fully compliant with all labor laws and regulations,” Ablola said.

A video uploaded on August 31 claimed Angel’s Burger crew members worked 24-hour days, were paid based on commission instead of regular wages, and were not provided with proper bathrooms.

The user behind the account, @crazyjaz_10, said a crew member shared the complaints with them during a conversation. The video has since been deleted, and the user declined to share additional details with radar Business.

Responding to concerns about bathroom access, Ablola said toilets could not be installed within the premises of the stalls due to sanitation laws.

The Sanitation Code of the Philippines mandates that toilet rooms cannot open directly into spaces where food is prepared, stored, or served.

Since Angel’s Burger requires its kiosks to measure merely 5 to 6 square meters, installing a toilet is “structurally impossible.”

However, Ablola said the chain requires franchisees to ensure that crew members have access to proper restroom facilities.

“As a strict operational policy, we require all our franchisees to establish clear and accessible toilet arrangements prior to opening a store. Franchisees must secure agreements that guarantee crew members have access to clean, safe, and proximate restroom facilities (such as those in the leasing commercial property or nearby establishments),” said Ablola.

Claims about below-minimum-wage pay at the specific store were also disputed by the company following its internal investigation.

“The crew members at this location are well-compensated and earn at least the mandated minimum wage, with opportunities to earn even more through performance incentives,” Ablola said.

He also noted that the compensation standard is being observed despite the store being legally exempt from minimum wage requirements under micro-enterprise laws because it employs fewer than nine employees.

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