DOLE: 45,000 employees regularized through DO 174

Labor Secretary and Chief Peace Negotiator Silvestre Bello III, in a press briefing in Malacañang on March 31, 2017, announces that a bilateral ceasefire agreement should be agreed upon between the National Democratic Front and the Government of the Philippines to end the hostilities on the ground and to provide a more conducive environment for peace talks to prosper. ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./Presidential Photo

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) claimed that around 45,000 employees have been regularized under the new department order on contracting and subcontracting work, Radyo Inquirer 990AM reported on Thursday.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III reportedly said that 45,605 contractual employees are now regular workers because of Department Order 174.

D.O. 174, signed by Bello last month, prohibits labor-only contracting and several other contractual arrangements.

READ: Bello signs order prohibiting labor contracting, subcontracting

President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly promised to stop contractualization or the so-called end of contract scheme (Endo) employed by some companies to save money.

READ: In meeting with workers, Duterte renews vow to stop endo

Bello said the administration’s campaign against contractualization is a success although 1,000 workers lost their jobs because their employers cannot afford to make them regular employees.

He said those who are now unemployed because of the new DO can seek help through the livelihood response program of the government.

Nevertheless, he said the department order would benefit majority of Filipino workers and that DOLE will continue to monitor compliance to the DO 174. Geisha Sinahonon/INQUIRER.net trainee/KS/rga