Duterte’s EO on ‘endo’ a ‘welcome dev’t’ but…

BACOLOD City – A local labor group welcomed with reservation President Rodrigo Duterte’s signing of an executive order (EO) that prohibits illegal contracting and subcontracting in the country.

General Alliance of Workers Association secretary-general Wennie Sancho said the EO is a “welcome development” but it is still “premature” for the labor sector to rejoice.

The President signed the EO on Tuesday, Labor Day, in front of labor groups in Cebu City.

“I hope that with all that I can do legally, there could be an impact sa inyong reklamong non-security of tenure,” the President said in his speech.

Duterte’s action gained negative reactions from some labor groups and lawmakers.

Kilusang Mayo Uno in Negros Island secretary-general Noli Rosales said the EO is “not enough” as the prohibitions contained in it are already present in the Labor Code of the Philippines.

Rep. Carlos Zarate (Bayan Muna) shared the same view. He said, “Walang silbi ang EO na nilagdaan dahil ang pagbabawal sa labor-only contracting ay nasa Labor Code na.”

Zarate added, “Gusto lang ng EO na ito ay pahupain ang galit ng mga manggagawa sa pagtalikod ni Pangulong Duterte sa pangako nyang wakasan ang ‘endo’ at kontraktwalisasyon.”

According to Sancho, he has yet to get a copy of the EO. He said he will “determine whether its provisions reflect the sentiments of workers to stop contractualization.”

Duterte in 2016 and 2017 has vowed to end ‘endo’ or ‘end of contract’ in the country.

Endo only allows individuals to work for not more than five months, thus preventing their regularization on the sixth month as mandated by the Labor Code.

It strips workers of the benefits that the law grants to regular employees.

On Tuesday, several labor unions and organizations in Negros Occidental signed a manifesto expressing their opposition on all forms of labor contractualization.

“We strongly oppose all forms of labor contractualization and other flexible employment arrangements which are inimical to the economic survival of workers,” reads part of the manifesto.

It added, “Companies are demanding for contractual workers as their strategy to reduce production cost and maximize their profit…Labor contractualization should be prohibited because it is unconstitutional.” (With a report from CNN Philippines/PN)

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