VARIOUS labor groups on Friday welcomed the remark of an incoming labor official that he would put an end to contractualization once President-elect Rodrigo Duterte assumed office.
Former Anakpawis Rep. Joel Maglungsod said he would talk to Duterte to certify as urgent a bill in Congress that would make contractualization illegal.
The Nagkaisa labor coalition said ending contractualization was among the issues being advocated by the Duterte administration.
Maglungsod, who was chosen by Duterte to be an undersecretary in the Department of Labor and Employment, vowed to end contractualization in labor.
Also known as “endo” (end of contract) or “5-5-5”, contractual work is the hiring of workers for only five months. This is to avoid making them permanent employees once they have worked for six straight months as provided by law.
Contractual workers have no security of tenure and benefits and are paid low wages compared with regular workers.
“The mayor president-elect made it clear to stop contractualization. The department order legalizing contractualization must be abolished immediately upon Mayor Duterte’s assumption of office,” Maglungsod said.
He said that in the 14th Congress, as a representative of the Anakpawis party-list, he authored a Regular Employment bill which, he said, he would suggest that Duterte to certify as urgent to oppose contractualization.
He also said he would fight for increased wages and coordinate with big business in implementing a reasonable and just wage hike.