6 firms barred from supplying endo workers

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has suspended the operations of six manpower companies which have reportedly been supplying big commercial firms, including malls, with “endo” (end of contract) workers.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III identified the six companies as Global Skills Multi-Purpose Cooperative, HD Manpower Services Cooperative, Worktrusted Manpower Cooperative, Excellent Multi-Purpose Cooperative, DCMM Manpower Services and JD Manpower Services.

“In the interest of the workers, I have issued a cease-and-desist order, which is a form of suspension, against the said companies found violating rules on contractualization and other labor regulations,” Bello said.

With the suspension order, Labor Undersecretary Dominador Say said the six companies are prohibited from hiring additional workers and are barred from operating as manpower services or supplying companies with contractual workers.

According to Say, the DOLE issued the cease-and-desist order after assessment and evaluation showed that the six companies were engaged in illegal labor-only contracting scheme and other violations of labor laws.

The DOLE, he said, is still to conduct mandatory hearings, which could lead to either the cancellation of registration of the manpower companies or the regularization or absorption of the endo workers by the principal employers.