Duterte bans illegal workers' contractualization

DAVAO CITY – President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the executive order banning illegal contract for workers or the practise by employers to hire employees on contractual basis,
said Special Assistant to the President, Secretary Bong Go.

Go said the President  made the announcement on May 1, Labor Day. The order, he said, prohibits illegal contracting or subcontracting or undertaking to circumvent the workers' right to security of tenure.

Many private employers hire workers and then terminate their job contract (Endo) before 6 months. Otherwise all workers after 6 months shall be deemed as regular workforce.

Go said he also welcomed the signing of the executive order, adding, he is aware of President Duterte’s unwavering focus in giving the workers their just due. “I am personally happy that finally we put a stop to the practice of contractualisation,” he said.

With the issuance of this order, Go said the government has taken a positive and strong stand to protect this constitutionally guaranteed right of workers.

This measure, Go stressed, intends to correct the imbalance between the interests of the employer and the workers by ensuring that the right to security of tenure of workers is not undermined and sacrificed.

“Pero hindi po dito natatapos ang pakikibaka para sa ating mga manggagawa at kinakailangan po ng pagpasa at pag-amyenda ng mga kaukulang batas upang maging pang-matagalan ang solusyon sa Endo. Samahan po natin ang Pangulo at ang Kongreso sa pagsulong ng mga ito,” Go said. (Jun Ledesma)