The Department of Labor and Employment under the leadership of incoming Secretary Silvestro Bello III urges all government agencies to take the lead in following the country’s labor laws. DOLE Sec. Bello stated that ending contractualization is one of his priority under the Duterte administration.
The current congressional representative of 1-BAP party-list said in an interview with GMA News that ending contractualization should start in government agencies. He was quoted as saying “Yun (contractualization in government) ang una nating titingna. You cannot expect the private sector to follow our law if the government isn’t willing to observe the law,” he told Super Radyo on dzBB.
The issue of contractualization is one of the major priorities of President Rody Duterte during the campaign period as he promised to end the controversial “endo” in the Philippines. The said labor practice is common in the country with more companies hire workers for a limited period of six months or less, without providing them with benefits.
Philippine labor laws requires employers to regularize workers who have been employed for six months or lay them off from work completely.
Based upon the plans of the incoming DOLE secretary, the incoming administration, President Rody Duterte has given him marching orders to strictly enforce the laws against labor contractualization, and ensure corporations do not circumvent them.
DOLE Sec. Bello was quoted as saying “Maliwanag ang kanyang kautusan na ipatupad ang anti-contractualization [laws], meaning we have to enforce them strictly kasi ngayon maraming kumpanya, business groups na di sumusunod doon,” he said.
Mayor Duterte also ordered the incoming Labor Secretary to get rid of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) of corruption and underperforming officials.