Labor dep’t official hopeful Duterte will sign EO

Despite Malacañang’s announcement that no executive order (EO) on contractualization will be signed by President Duterte, a labor department official is still hopeful that a directive will be issued as a Labor Day gift to workers.

Labor Undersecretary Joel Maglunsod said there was still a slight chance that an EO would be issued for workers on May 1.

“We are still open to the possibility that the much-awaited EO will be reconsidered by our President, so we hope it will be reconsidered by May 1,” he said in a press briefing on Friday.

He said that the signing of the EO on contractualization would be a “great gift” to the labor sector. “If there will be amendments, it can just follow after May 1. What is more important is that an EO is signed,” Maglunsod added. —JULIE M. AURELIO