Duterte still studying Security of Tenure Bill

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is still studying whether or not he will sign the Security of Tenure (SOT) bill, which is set to lapse into law by the end of this week.

Speaking to reporters after his fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona), Duterte said he should study the proposed bill first because a lot of employers and workers will be affected.

“Pinag-aralan na namin mismo. I have to confer with a lot of people affected. You know this is two to tango eh. It would affect the employers and of course it could also greatly favor the workers,” Duterte said.

Duterte issued the statement after more than a dozen local and international business groups urged him to veto the bill since it is redundant as there are previously approved laws that already protect workers from “endo” or end of contract scheme.

The chambers also insisted that job contracting is “an exercise of management prerogative and business judgment [that] is anchored on two constitutional rights: right and freedom to contract and right to property.”

The proposed law was transmitted to Duterte’s office on June 27, and will lapse into law by July 27, if the President, who promised to end labor contracting during the 2016 elections, will not act on it.

READ: Duterte to hear out business groups’ objection to security of tenure bill

/kga