KMU lauds Duterte for opposing contractualization

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. INQUIRER FILE /LYN RILLON

A militant labor group on Sunday praised presidential aspirant Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for opposing the “contractualization” of private and public employees.

Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) said that they were also expecting other presidential aspirants to follow Duterte’s lead.

“We are glad that Duterte has taken a pro-worker stand on one of the most important workers’ issues. We dare other presidential aspirants to also denounce this employment scheme which has meant a wholesale violation of workers’ rights,” KMU chair Elmer Labog said in a statement.

“Contractualization violates workers’ rights to a living wage, to job security, and to the free exercise of trade-union rights, it should be banned. It is a scheme that allows capitalists, especially the big ones, to amass huge profits by attacking workers’ rights,” Labog added.

The Philippines has adopted the Herrera law which permits companies to hire employees in a contract-only mode of employment.

Labog claims that under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III, the Department of Labor and Employment issued guidelines for contractualization through Department Order No. 18-A Series of 2011.

In a recent statement, Duterte slammed contractualization, saying that he would put an end to it should he be elected as president.

He cautioned that the long-term effect of that policy would destroy the country’s work force and sow instability due to lack of job security.