Villanueva welcomes Duterte’s move to prioritize ‘End of Endo Act’

Senator Joel Villanueva has welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to certify Senate Bill No. 1116 or the “End of Endo Act” as a priority bill.

Villanueva, who heads the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resources, said the committee is finalizing the bill, which will then be distributed to other senators.

“We will release the committee report as soon as we finished circulating the draft to the senators for inputs,” Villanueva said in statement.  “The President’s certification will definitely help in the passage of a new law-governing endo.”

The End of Endo Act is viewed as a solution to the long-delayed promise of President Duterte to eradicate ‘endo’ or the end of contracts that applies to contractual employees.  Under the said bill, stricter rules regulations on contractualization will be implemented.

Villanueva said his committee was constantly in communication with Malacañang regarding its policy direction.  He added that he plans to talk with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) before Congress resumes its session in May.

“We have been actively coordinating with the DOLE since we believe that their inputs are crucial to ensure that the proposed measure will adequately address the realities on the ground. As the implementing agency in-charge of enforcing the laws on contractualization, we believe that the DOLE’s participation in the policy-making process is crucial,” Villanueva said.

“We still expect Malacañang to issue an EO to provide the framework and guidance for the implementation of a national policy on contractualization. We should know the clear position of the executive on this matter. We want to ensure that what we are legislating is useful and effective,” Villanueva added.            /muf