BROKEN PROMISES | Duterte’s vow to end labor contracting no longer a priority

BROKEN PROMISES | Duterte’s vow to end labor contracting no longer a priority – adviser

July 8, 2021 , 09:59 PM

By Beatrice Puente, News5 Digital

(July 8, 2021) – Workers can no longer expect an end to the practice of labor contracting before President Rodrigo Duterte steps down from office next year, a newly appointed government adviser said on Thursday, saying it would no longer be part of the administration’s priority.

Jacinto Paras, the adviser for political affairs, said Duterte might no longer follow through with his campaign promise after his “controversial” move to veto the proposed Security of Tenure bill in 2019.

“Medyo hindi ito naging priority ngayon,” Paras, a former labor undersecretary, told journalists in a news conference. He was recently appointed to the executive branch to serve as Duterte’s liaison officer with political parties.

“If you look at the reason why the President vetoed it, it was because it was not able to resolve the conflict between the labor and the management. Yun po. Maybe in due time. I think it’s still [an] important proposed legislation.”

Ending labor contractualization was among the top promises made by Duterte back when he was still running for the highest public office, criticizing the widespread labor practice as unfair.

Endo, a short term for “end of contract”, allows employers to hire fixed-term workers, subjecting them to renewal every month, quarter, or year. It essentially strips workers of benefits that a company should provide for regular workers in a bid to cut down labor costs.

Duterte thumbed down the proposed legislation ending contractualization two years ago to “strike a balance” between the interests of both employers and employees. He said some forms of contractualization should not be restricted because they are “not unfavorable to the employees.”

Labor groups criticized the president’s move.

“While labor-only contracting must be prohibited, legitimate job-contracting should be allowed, provided that the contractor is well capitalized, has sufficient investments, and affords its employees all the benefits provided for under the labor laws,” Duterte’s veto message read.

Duterte would instead focus on the passage of a separate government agency tackling the affairs of overseas Filipino workers, a pet bill of his close ally, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go. He has certified it as urgent.

Paras said the government would also focus on resolving the issues surrounding the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

He added the leader also wanted to approve an amendment to the Public Service Act, the Foreign Investments Act, and the latest tranche of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program.

Duterte is expected to discuss these matters during his last State of the Nation Address on July 26.

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