Security of tenure bill a step away from passage in House

Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin

The House of Representatives has approved on second reading the measure seeking to strengthen the security of tenure and prohibit the practice of labor-only contracting and subcontracting.

Tuesday evening’s voice voting, in which the ayes drowned out the nays, put House Bill No. 6908 only one step away from passage by the chamber.

One of the proponents, Akbayan Rep. Tomasito Villarin, noted that this measure never got this far in the 15 years since the first bill addressing the problem was first filed in Congress.

“Finally, this Congress passed a bill that is acceptable to a broad spectrum of worker’s groups,” Villarin said in a Wednesday press briefing, adding that about two million workers would benefit from the measure.

Under the bill, private sector employees hired for an indefinite period would be considered regular as a general rule, once the probationary period covering the first six months at most is over. —Vince F. Nonato