Sotto nixes proposal to extend work probationary period to 2 years

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto lll. INQUIRER.net photo / Ryan Leagogo

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday opposed a proposal seeking to extend the probationary period of new employees to two years.

“Dead on the way,” Sotto told reporters at the Senate, referring to a House bill that seeks to extend probationary employment from six months to two years.

He said the Senate would probably not act on the said proposal.

“With due respect to those who are proposing it, ako’y, hindi ako palo dun sapagkat ang pinaguusapan nga natin alisin natin yung contractualization eh. Ito parang pinapalapad mo yung contractualization, pinahahaba mo lalo,” the Senate leader said.

(With due respect to those who are proposing it. For me, I don’t agree with it because we are trying to end contractualization. With that proposal, you are expanding the period of contractualization, you are lengthening it.)

Sotto issued the statement after Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said the bill would not stand a chance in the Senate, noting it will be “dead on arrival.”

READ: Proposal seeking 2-year probation period ‘dead on arrival’ in Senate – Drilon 

For Sotto, he said one or two months are already enough time for him to assess whether his employees are qualified for the job or not.

“Ang assessment na tingin ko sa aking mga empleyado, isa, dalawang buwan lang na pagtatrabaho nung empleyado…alam mo na. Alam mo na kung dapat manatili pa siya, kung pwede mong i-regular o hindi. That’s good enough time,” he said.

(My assessment to my employees, one or two months of working…you would already know. You would know whether they should stay. If they should be regularized or not).

READ: Palace backs Dole against 2-year probation period 

Earlier, Senator Leila de Lima criticized the proposal tagging it as “mindless” and “heartless.”

“This is a mindless and heartless proposal, and at the core, anti-workers. Worse, it is antithetical to the long-overdue anti-ENDO [end of contract] or security of tenure bill…It is a fog in which to hide the real issue,” she said in a statement.

READ: De Lima hits ‘mindless, heartless’ 2-year probationary period for new hires 

Both Malacañang and the labor department also rejected this proposal. /jpv

READ: Palace backs Dole against 2-year probation period