Duterte calls on Congress to pass measures for workers' rights

MANILA, Philippines —  President Rodrigo Duterte on Labor Day urged Congress to pass legislation to protect workers’ rights days after his national police chief blamed joblessness on labor protests for those rights.

In his Labor Day message released Wednesday, Duterte lamented that the plight of Filipino workers, especially those working abroad, “remains the same.” But the chief executive said he hopes Congress will move forward on pending bills aimed to protect workers' rights.

Duterte’s Labor Day message: Today, we celebrate the working class not as a tool of employers and capitalists, but as an essential catalyst for our nation’s overall progress. | @xtinamen pic.twitter.com/WNACkSxV3P

— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) May 1, 2019

"I remain optimistic that one year since I issued Executive Order No. 51 implementing existing constitutional and statutory provisions against illegal contracting, my counterparts in Congress will consider passing much needed legislative measures that will fully protect our workers’ rights, especially to security of tenure and self-organization," he added.

In his State of the Nation Address last July, Duterte called on Congress to pass the Security of Tenure bill to further regulate labor contractualization and in September certified it as urgent to help fast-track its passage.

The House version of the bill does not ban contractual labor, which employers' groups say companies need during busier seasons.

The current set of lawmakers will be replaced by the 18th Congress after elections this month and all pending legislation will have to be refiled and go through the legislative process again.

READ: 20M workers at risk as security of tenure bill nears own 'endo'

The president also said that he hopes the celebration of Labor Day would inspire Filipinos to work together to improve "the plight of our workers by creating an environment conducive to their personal and professional growth and development.'

Albayalde: KMU 'anti-worker'

The president's statement comes within days of Police General Oscar Albayalde, Philippine National Police chief, said that labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno—among the groups joining a unity march for workers' rights on Wednesday—is "anti-worker" because unions and rallies scare away investors.  

"Why are the investors leaving? The KMU will enter, instigate unions and then hold rallies," the national police chief said. The Constitution and the Labor Code recognize the right to form unions and to strike.

KMU, in response, said: "Unions have struggled for the protection of jobs. It is not the cause of massive retrenchment and unemployment."

RELATED: Don't demonize striking workers, Duterte told

The group said reliance on foreign investment and an alleged subservience to foreign powers "that caused decades of massive job loss that came with the destruction of our domestic agricultural industry and small and medium enterprises to favor big foreign businesses."

Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, which is also joining the unity march, also chided Albayalde for his statement, claiming investors are more worried about graft and corruption, red tape, and high power rates.

Leody De Guzman, BMP chairperson and a candidate for senator, added in Filipino: "It is the PNP that was implicated in 'tokhang-for-ransom' that South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo fell victim to, but he says it is the workers who scare off investors?"

De Guzman was referring to a Korean businessman who was taken from his home in Angeles, Pampanga in a fake drug raid and killed inside the PNP headquarters in Quezon City. Two police officers and a "runner" are standing trial for the complex crime of kidnapping for ransom with homicide at a Pampanga court over the kidnap-slay.

Robredo renews call for end to 'endo'

Vice President Leni Robredo, for her part, also called for the end of ENDO (end of contract) and contractualization.

“Endo” refers to the practice of short-term contracts short of six months that would turn a worker into a regular employee.

In a tweet, Robredo said in Filipino: “Uphold safe, honourable and regular work for the Filipino workers.”

Ngayong Mayo Uno, magkaisa tayo na wakasan na ang ENDO at kontraktwalisasyon. Itaguyod ang ligtas, marangal, at regular na trabaho para sa manggagawang Pilipino.

— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) May 1, 2019

Duterte and contractualization

Even before election to president, Duterte vowed to end contractualization in a week.

In a Labor Day celebration last year, Duterte announced he had signed an executive order which puts an end to illegal contractualization and provides security of tenure for Filipino workers.

In a speech, Duterte explained that the EO prohibits “illegal contracting or subcontracting or undertaking to circumvent the workers’ right to security of tenure.”

The president also urged the Congress to amend the Labor Code.

But Rep. Ariel Casilao (Anakaawis party-list) then raised that there was “nothing new” in the EO. “What the workers demanded is total prohibition of contractualization by virtue of direct hiring,” he added.

READ: Duterte's EO vs 'endo' draws mixed reactions

In September 2018, Duterte certified as urgent Senate Bill 1826, titled “An Act Strengthening Workers Right to Security of Tenure.”

When the president certifies a bill as urgent, it will not be covered by the rule which states that a measure can only be approved on final reading three days after its approval on second reading. 

Data from the Senate website showed that the Senate bill remains pending second reading. — Kristine Joy Patag with report from The STAR/Christina Mendez