DOLE to fast-track regularization of contract workers

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is crafting a policy that will speed up the regularization of contractual workers to meet the deadline to eradicate the illegal end of contract or endo scheme by yearend.

Labor Undersecretary Joel Maglunsod said due to delay in the regularization of contractual workers nationwide, the DOLE is revising the existing rules and regulation on the implementation of Department Order 174 or the policy governing contracting and subcontracting scheme.

“We will revise department order  (DO) 131-B so we could prompt companies to immediately implement the regularization of contractual workers upon issuance of compliance order,” Maglunsod said in an interview.

Maglunsod said the new DO to be issued soon would allow the DOLE’s regional offices to require companies to regularize contractual workers immediately.

“The compliance order of the regional directors to regularize workers shall be immediately executory pending appeal,” he added.

Under existing rules, compliance order for regularization will not be implemented immediately if there is a pending appeal from companies.

Maglunsod said with the new policy, employers can still appeal the DOLE’s decision, but they are still required to immediately enforce the regularization.