Robredo seeks end to labor contractualization

Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday called for the passage of the bill to end contractualization in the country, adding that Filipinos deserve job security.

In a dialogue with workers at Stonerich Corporate Center in Quezon City, Robredo said she was already pushing for the strengthening of the Security of Tenure Bill when she was still in Congress.

"In fact, I was one of those who pushed for this (anti-endo bill) in Congress sa paniniwala na dapat ang manggagawa binibigyan siya ng seguridad na kapag nagkaroon siya ng trabaho ay tuloy-tuloy yung kaniyang trabaho basta maayos iyong kanyang ginagawa," she said.

(Workers should have job security and they should remain employed as long as they work diligently.)

She lamented that the practice was still rampant even as President Rodrigo Duterte promised to end contractual labor.

"Laganap kasi yung practice, laganap iyong practice na iyong employment hanggang five months lang— tapos papahingahin sila ng sandali tapos iha-hire na namin at a later time para nalulusutan iyong required na pag-regularize sa mga pamahalaan. Mali ito," said Robredo.

(The practice is rampant that some are being employed for five months then companies will hire new workers again to prevent regularization. This is wrong.)

Aside from this, Robredo urged for a better employer and employee relationship to help businesses thrive in the country.

"Dapat nagtutulungan lagi, dapat iyong mindset lagi na papaano matutulungan iyong dalawang, iyong parehong sides," she said.

(They must help each other, their mindset should be how to assist each other.)

"Kasi again, para siyang chicken and egg thing ‘di ba na kailangan iyong negosyo natutulungan na bukas siya at nagta-thrive para makadagdag siya ng mga employees lagi. So iyong sa akin lang, marami yung mga improvement na kailangan gawin," he added.

(It's like a chicken and egg thing that a business should be more open to thrive and accept more employees. But there's a lot of improvement to do here.)

Congress already approved the anti-endo bill but Duterte vetoed it in 2019. The bill seeks to eliminate subcontracting of labor and limit job contracting to licensed and specialized services.  

Pro-labor groups frowned at Duterte's veto on the bill, adding that the President's move showed support for capitalists.—LDF, GMA News