The old saying ....??
Don't fight City Hall.....
The system here favors the worker... as in many other countries.
Factor in the gringo status and you have reality.
It has nothing to do with being Gringo. My mom fired her driver and ended up having to pay him a month pay as severance and she is a Dominican. He went to labor court and got his pay. It's cheaper to just settle with the guys lawyer and pay the $1,000 just the cost of the trip will be nearly a thousand if not more.