Walaga.

Business Insight
Thurcday, May 2,2OLg

Duterte to Congress: Pass

bills on workers' rights
BYJOCELYN MONTEMAYOR
PRESIDENT Duterte yestetday
urged Congress to pass laws that
would protect workers, including
their rights to security of tenure
and self-organization.
The President, in his Labor Day
message, lamented that despite the
yeady observance of the national
holiday, the plight of Filipino
workers especially those who work
abroad "remains the same."
The House of Representatives
approved House Bill 6908 in
Janary last,vear. The bill seeks to
stengthen the security of tenute
of emplovees in the private sectot
by ptohibiting labor-only contract-
ing and "endo" (end of contract).
' A counterpart measure is pend-
ing approval on second reading
at the Senate. Senate President
Vicente Sotto IIIsaid the chambet
will prioritize the passage of Sen-
ate Bill No. 1826 in the final three
weeks of its session next month.
Congress will resume session
on May 20.
Duterte said his adminisuation
has done with it can rithin its pow-
ers to protect the labor sector and
promote equal work opporrunities
for all.
He expressed hope that Con-
gress would do the same through
the passage of rneasutes.
"I remain optimistic that one
year since I issued Executive Or-
der No. 51 implementing existing
constirutional and statutory provi-
sions against illegal contracting,
my couflterparts in Congress will
considet passing much needed
legislative measures that will fully
protect our workers' rights, espe-
to security of tenure and self
ciall,y
orga ni2v11611," he said.
"Nfay this solemn observance
inspire all of us to wotk togethet
See DUTEME ) Page 83

DUTERTE and their families were held during

in improving the plight of our
workers by creating an environ-
ment conducive to their personal
and professional growth and de-
velopment. Today, we celebrate
the workjng class not as a tool of
employers and capitalists, but as
an essential catalyst for out na-
tion's overall progress," he also
said.
During Labor Day rites in Cebu
City last year, the President sigqed
the executive order banning illegal
contracting and subcontracting.ln
September last year, he certified
as urgent a proposed law against
conftactualization or "endo" (end
of contract) arrangements.
Labor-only contracting entails
the use of agepts ot manpower
agencies solely to recruit workers
on behalf of a bigger business,
allowing bus.iness to circumvent
labor rules, avoid regularization
of employees, and make it easier
to workers.
Several activities including iobs
fairs and ground-breaking rites
fot a high-end hospital fot OFWs
the commemoration of the Labot
Day celebration in Sfi Ferlahdo,
Pampanga.
President Dutette, who has
coflrmemorated Labor Day outside
Mero Manila since he became
president h 2076, skipped the
activities in Pampanga.
He was in Davao in*te2017 La-
bor Day rites and in Cebu in 2018.
Chief Presidential Legal Coun-
sel Salvador Panelo, concurrent
ptesidential spokesman, said the
President considers Filipino work-
ers as the country's "most vaiued
resource" and leading engrne that
will propel the country's growth
and development.
"The administration's resolve is
the promotion and protection of
the rights and welfare of Filipino
workets not only in the country
but in foreign soil as well," Panelo
said as he acknowledged criticisms
ofsome groups like the l(ilusang
Mayo Uno (KMt, askingwhat the
administration has done for the
labot sector.
He said several measures have
been adopted by the administration
since Duterte became president in
2016, including passing proJabor
Iaws like the strengthening of oc-
cuparional safety and health stan-
dards S.epubLc Act No. 11058),
making work from home as an
alternative vrork arrangement (Re-
public Act No. 11165), extending
female workers' maternity ieave
period (Republic Act No. 11210),
and providing a handbook on
the rights and responsibilities of
migrant workers (Republic Act
No. 11227).
He.also said that contrary to
critics'claims, it is not the govern-
ment that is driving investors a.;/ay
but anti-government actions of the
deuactors of the adminisuation.
"The KMU crititizes the gov-
ernment for being anti-poor and
anti-worker while blaming the gov-
erflment for the lack of jobs and
alleged worsening labot conditions.
What seems to escape them is the
uuth that their anti-government
activities could scare away foreign
investors in the country- resulting
in iob fosses to the people they ate
fighting for and vow to protect," he
satd. -With Vince Nonato