Senate to prioritize measures vs labor abuses

Job seekers at the Labor Day Job Fair at the Manila City Hall. INQUIRER / Marianne Bermudez

Heeding President Rodrigo Duterte’s call, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel assured on Tuesday that the Senate would prioritize the passage of a new Labor Code that would further strengthen workers’ security of tenure.

Pimentel said the measure will focus on ending illegal contractualization, a hiring practice where companies let go of workers before they complete six months of service to avoid workers’ regularization.

“Yes priority. Focus on ending illegal contractualization,” the Senate leader said in a viber message to reporters.

Meanwhile, Senator Joel Villanueva, chair of Senate committee on labor, employment and human resources development, lauded the President’s move to sign the an executive order (EO) prohibiting illegal contracting and sub-contracting.

READ: Duterte signs EO vs illegal contracting

“The EO, whatever it is, is a guide for everyone on where the Executive’s stand on the issue of ‘endo’ although it did not depart from the existing policy on contracting. But it should be noted that the President reiterated his call to end ‘endo’ and illegal contractualization,” Villanueva said in statement.

The senator has likewise vowed that the Senate would enact a law that will end labor abuses and promote workers’ right to security of tenure.

“Let me emphasize that addressing the abuses and ensuring compliance by businesses with labor standards and occupational safety and health (OSH) standards through clear and fair legislation is not anti-business,” he noted.

Duterte earlier signed an EO which prohibits illegal contracting and subcontracting, and ensures workers’ right to security.

READ: Duterte signs EO vs illegal contracting

Malacañang has yet to release a copy of the signed EO but there are two drafts of EO at present: the one drafted by labor groups Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP), Kilusang Mayo Uno, and Nagkaisa, and the other made by the Department of Industry (DTI), Department of Labor (DOLE) and employer groups. /jpv