DOLE order vs. ‘endo’ fulfilled Duterte’s campaign promise – Palace

Malacañang on Friday said the order of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) against ‘endo’ was a fulfillment of President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign promise, even though labor leaders already expressed dismay on the department order.

In a statement, presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella lauded Department Order 174 as a ‘major step’ in ensuring that Filipino workers enjoy their labor rights.

“The Department Order 174 issued by the Department of Labor and Employment regulating the contracting and subcontracting of employees is a fulfillment of the campaign promise of the President,” Abella said.

“This is a major step in upholding and protecting the labor rights of our great Filipino workers,” he added.

Labor officials and employers were also urged to properly implement the order.

“The Duterte administration is working very hard to promote more humane conditions and fair and just treatment of workers in the work place,” Abella said.

“We guarantee the proper implementation of this department order by our labor officials and expect the full cooperation from the employers,” he added.

Abella also thanked those who urged for the creation of DO 174.

“We commend all concerned parties for the tireless efforts they poured in to make this a reality,” he said.

“The fruits of labor must be enjoyed justly and equitably, while business investments must be encouraged to grow and prosper so they can share with workers the reward for their toil,” he added.

However, militant groups such as Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) have already expressed disappointment on DOLE’s new DO and even urged the President to fire Labor Sec. Silvestre Bello III.

The group argued that DO 174 would only encourage perpetuation of contractualization in the country.

On February 27, labor leaders met with Duterte in Malacañang where they said the President ordered Bello to create a new department order on contractualization. — Trisha Macas/RSJ, GMA News