Security of tenure bill should also protect employers – Duterte

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday said lawmakers should have followed the agreed-upon version of the security of tenure measure which strikes a balance between the needs of workers and employers / business owners.

Duterte earlier vetoed the measure , saying that while he remains committed to protecting workers’ rights, “our goal, however, has always been to target the abuse, while leaving businesses free to engage in practices beneficial to both management and the workforce.”

READ: Duterte vetoes security of tenure bill

“Yung sa security of tenure e dapat sinunod nila yung usapan. Do not make it hard for the capitalist also to move,” Duterte said when he visited Batanes, which was struck by strong earthquakes and aftershocks last Saturday.

Duterte explained that there are instances when hired workers are lazy or have “no IQ” and when they are fired, the relieved employees tend to seek assistance from the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC).

The president said businesses should also be protected from poorly-performing employees.

“Alam mo kasi, ganito ‘yan. Kung kukunin ko ‘yan, malakas ‘yung labor force doon, so pasok sila nang pasok. Walang problema ‘yan, Filipino eh,” Duterte said.

“But the fact is kung itong taong ito is indolent, tamad, hindi marunong, at tsaka meron talagang walang IQ, then you are saddled with one or two employees, kung tanggalin mo, you will go to the arbiter then they will be facing cases. Instead of helping his fellow men, siya ang magkaproblema and this happened many times,” the President pointed out.

Further, Duterte said that the bill should also “provide the security of capital.”

“Hindi maganda. The Security of Tenure (bill) should also provide the security of capital,” Duterte said.

Duterte said he may approve another version of the bill which would “level off” the concerns of both workers and businesses. /gsg