Rody: Not regularizing employees? I'll cancel your permits

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday reiterated his call to stop contractualization in the country and threatened to close companies which are not regularizing employees.

Duterte said he would not tolerate such companies and urged employers to pay workers correctly or else he could have their businesses closed down.

“Stop contractualization, it will not do good to our country. Huwag na ninyo hintaying mahuli pa kayo ni Secretary Bello (Silvestre “Bebot” Bello). ‘Pag nalaman ko, I’ll just simply close your plant… Don’t tempt me,” Duterte said in his first press briefing as president.

The president expressed pity to workers whose rights as laborers are being abused. He particularly cited security guards who work for 24 hours instead of rendering their supposed eight-hour shift.

Duterte said most security agencies are owned by military men. He threatened to cancel their permits if these agencies continue to practice contractualization.

“Sumunod kayo o ika-kansela ko yung permit ninyo, mamili kayo,” the president warned.

Duterte urged outsourcing companies  to pay employees correctly and stop disobeying labor laws such as paying the minimum wage.

“Masama yan sa bayan, stop it…. Bayaran ninyo lahat,wag ninyong paikutin…” Duterte said.

“If you do not take care of the workers, then I cannot take care of you,” he stressed.

Likewise, Duterte encouraged contractual employees to report labor law violations using the national emergency hotline 911 and citizen complaint hotline number 8888.

The president also mentioned that the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority has already spent millions to hone workers’ skills.

Prior to his assumption of office last May, Duterte vowed to end contractualization without compromise, saying he would convince businessmen to stop it by providing them adequate protection.

Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre “Bebot” Bello earlier said he would follow Duterte’s directives. However, in a televised interview last July 26, Bello said “there will be no total abolition of contractualization under Duterte administration as there will be exceptions.” — With reports from Alexis Romero

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