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EO vs. 'endo' proof of gov't commitment to workers : Bello

By Ferdinand Patinio

May 1, 2018, 7:57 pm

MANILA -- Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Tuesday thanked President Rodrigo R. Duterte for signing the Executive Order (EO) ending all forms of illegal contractualization.

“We would like to thank the President for fulfilling his commitment to the Filipino workingmen. His gesture is a heartening gift to the workers on Labor Day,” said Bello in a statement issued Tuesday afternoon after the President announced that he signed the EO during the Labor Day celebration in Cebu City.

Bello said the signing of the order only proves that the government is serious in stopping contractualization.

“The signing by President Duterte of the EO spells clearly the policy of his government to fully end illegal contracting and subcontracting practices,” he said.

“Ito ang kanyang paraan ng pagbibigay pugay sa manggagawang Pilipino, ang dangal ng ating lahi at kabalikat ng pamahalaan tungo sa pagbabago (This is his way to pay homage to the Filipino worker -- the dignity of our race and the partner of the government to positive change),” he added.

Meanwhile, several labor groups expressed disappointment over the signing of the EO.

"We felt we were taken for a ride. There was no consultation with our 5th draft submitted to the Office of the President through the Labor Secretary last April 13. The EO that was signed definitely is an EO for the employers not for the workers. We will not waver, we will continue to fight to give justice to workers affected by the widespread contractualization of labor,” said Rene Magtubo, Partido Manggagawa chairperson and Nagkaisa spokesperson.

“If President Digong wanted to fulfill his promise of ending 'endo', he should have signed the 5th draft of the workers’ EO that would make direct hiring of workers to principal employers a norm in employment relations of his administration," Magtubo said, claiming that the President "broke his promise and betrayed the workers."

SENTRO Secretary General Josua Mata said the President signed the EO which is "essentially" the draft version of the Department of Trade and Industry and not that was submitted to him by the workers.

“It merely reiterated the current regulatory policy that has failed to prevent the malignant spread of contractualization. Once again, Mr. Duterte showed who’s side he is on -- with the employers,” he added.

For his part, Julius Cainglet of the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) said: “The cycle of broken promises continues. We are not happy with the EO. Nasaan ang Tapang at Malasakit? We wanted an order that is reflective of his sympathy for contractual and agency workers."

“What we got is the same as the previous issuances of government that has set aside direct hiring as the norm. Where is the tough guy stance against exploitative employers?” the FFW official added. (PNA)

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