ECOP still studying if 2-year probationary period for employees would be beneficial

The Employers Confederation of the Philippines on Saturday said it was still studying whether the proposed two-year probationary period for employees would be beneficial.

"Sa totoo lang, pareho lang kaming nagulat ng labor sector dahil hindi naman kami nakonsulta diyan bago lumabas 'yan. Sa ngayon pinag-aaralan namin kung ano ang implikasyon nito, kung ito ba ay makakabuti," ECOP president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV aired on GMA News TV.

Probinsyano Ako party-list Representative Jose "Bonito" Singson Jr. recently filed House Bill 4802, saying the six-month probationary employment period prescribed under the Labor Code is not enough to assess whether an employee is qualified for regularization, particularly in positions requiring specialized skills and talents.

The measure is currently pending before the House Committee on Labor and Employment.

The ECOP leader said they are not yet ready to endorse the proposed bill.

"Hindi pa kami handa kung i-endorse namin 'yan," Ortiz-Luis said.

However, he said normally, the six-month probationary period is enough to assess if an employee can be offered regular status.

"Kaya probationary ay titingnan at pipiliin mo ang maganda at pinakamahusay (na aplikante," he added.

"Pero normally six months is enough (na probationary period), pero pinag-aaralan pa namin ang bill dahil baka naman may magandang probisyon doon na pahabain natin ang six months," Ortiz-Luis said.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Saturday said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is not in favor of the proposal to extend the probationary period of employees from six months to two years.

"Hindi namin alam ano ang dahilan kung bakit nag-sponsor ang Ang Probinsyano party-list ng a longer period of probation. With due respect, ang DOLE has a different position kasi masyado naman atang mahaba 'yan," Bello said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV aired on GMA News TV.

"Congress will decide and of course the President. Assuming na papasa and the President will ask the Department of Labor kung ano ang posisyon namin, we will recommend a veto, kasi kawawa naman ang ating mga manggagawa," Bello said.

'Pro-employer, anti-worker'

Alan Tanjusay, spokesperson of Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP), said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV on Saturday that their organization is rejecting the proposal.

"Ito ay nire-reject ng TUCP at isa itong uri ng pagpapalawig ng endo at kontraktuwalisasyon sa Pilipinas," he said.

Tanjusay said they believe six months probationary period is already long; one to three months is enough.

"Sa aming actual na experience, sobra-sobra na nga 'yung six months dahil sa makabagong panahon ngayon, ang dami nang pamamaraan para sukatin, timbangin 'yung kakayahan ng aplikante," he said.

"Napakahaba na ng six months (para sukatin) kung kukunin mo ang manggagawang iyon o hindi," Tanjusay added.

"Sa amin ay one to three months (na probationary period) at makikita mo na ang kakayahan ng kukunin mong empleyado," he said.

Tanjusay also said Singson's proposal is pro-employer and anti-worker and will just aggravate the poverty situation.

"Lalawak ang kahirapan sa ating bansa, ang agwat ng mahirap at mayaman ay mas lalong lalaki dahil imbes na may security of tenure ay wala, yung wages at benefits mo ay limitado... Clearly, ito ay pro-employer at anti-worker. Pabor ito sa mga negosyante," he said. —KG, GMA News