Diokno tells workers on Labor Day: We can’t rely on Duterte gov’t anymore

MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial candidate Chel Diokno has advised people to refrain from relying on government to solve labor-related problems as several measures seen to ease the life of workers remain unattended.

In his Labor Day message during a program at the Mabuhay Rotonda in Quezon City on Wednesday, Diokno told the gathered workers that they cannot depend on the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte anymore.

“Ako’y nakiki-isa sa lahat ng mga manggagawa, at sasabihin ko sa inyong lahat, ‘wag na tayong umasa sa gobyerno.  Umasa na tayo sa ating mga sarili.  Ipaglaban natin ang ating mga karapatan,” he said.

“‘Yon pong issue ng endo, hanggang ngayon ay naka-salang pa rin sa Senado, hanggang ngayon ay hindi gumagalaw,” he explained.

According to the opposition bet, even the issue of giving Chinese workers local employment — another labor issue — has not been addressed.

“Ito pong issue sa Tsina na binibigay ‘yong mga trabaho natin sa kanila, ‘wag na tayong umasa.  Tayo na mismo ang pumunta doon, ipaglaban natin ang kung ano ang sa atin,” Diokno added.

Ending contractualization was a campaign promise by the President. When the country marked Labor Day in 2018, the President signed an Executive Order (EO) that banned labor-contracting and other illegal forms contractualization.

READ: WHAT WENT BEFORE: Duterte promise to end contractualization

READ: Duterte signs executive order on ‘endo’

However, it allowed some seasonal jobs to be still contracted, reaping the ire of labor groups that claimed that the EO did little to minimize the effects of contractualization.

READ: Labor groups unhappy with executive order on contractualization

A year after, labor groups are still asking the current administration to fast-track the passage of a law banning contractual labor.  /muf

READ: Influx of Chinese workers, ‘endo’ decried at Labor Day rally