EO ending endo is proof DU30 is no dictator!
President Rodrigo Duterte on May 1 signed an Executive Order (EO) to put an end to illegal contractualization and provide security of tenure for Filipino workers, known as "endo." The word "endo," which comes from the term "end of contract," refers to the practice of giving job contracts short of six months that would otherwise make a worker a regular employee. DU-30 made this announcement in a speech at the Labor Day celebration at the International Eucharistic Center (IEC).
Call it coming from President who is oozing with political will. Duterte said, "I remain firm in my commitment to put an end to 'endo' and illegal contractualization." Basically the EO that he signed prohibits "illegal contracting or subcontracting or undertaking to circumvent the workers' right to security of tenure." The end of "endo" has been the battle cry of many labor organizations, especially those groups allied with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), where security of tenure is wanting. Duterte said: "Security of tenure refers to the right of employees not to be dismissed or removed without just and authorized cause and observance of procedural due process pursuant with the Constitution and Labor Code."
But in signing the EO that supposedly ends "endo," Duterte noted that an EO would not be enough to ensure security of tenure and he exhorted Congress to amend the Labor Code. He said, "I can only implement but if there are things that need to be corrected, modified to suit the needs or the demand of time ... We have to amend or correct or recommend revision or revisit the laws." At least the President is honest about the limitations of his EO.
In a way, the President echoed what senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that there is a need to repeal or amend the Labor Code if the government would seek a total ban on contractualization. Duterte noted that a mere EO would not be enough to ensure security of tenure. He urged the Congress to amend the Labor Code.
Yesterday as I drove along Cardinal Rosales Avenue, I saw the numerous protesters with flying red banners along Juan Luna Avenue far away from the IEC. You would have expected a joyous celebration and dancing on the streets that Duterte finally signed the end of "endo" in front of Cebuanos. But apparently this did not happen!
I read in the Philippine Star report yesterday that blared: "Labor groups were unhappy with an executive order (EO) on contractualization that President Rodrigo Duterte signed on Tuesday, saying they were 'taken for a ride.' A labor coalition, Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa, said the EO merely reiterated the current regulatory policy that has failed to prevent the spread of contractualization, an arrangement that offers workers no security of tenure. 'Once again, Mr. Duterte showed who's side he is on - with the employers. President Duterte's EO is useless,' Sentro Secretary General Josua Mata said in a statement."
If the labor groups are not happy with the President signing this EO to end "endo" … this only proves that they have another agenda and that is to undermine the government. What did these people expect from the President? An EO that would instantly amend the existing Labor Laws that are still in full force and effect?
For the sake of discussion, if Pres. Duterte signed an EO to end "endo" that practically amends the existing Labor Laws, these labor groups would then march the streets telling the whole world that indeed, Duterte is a dictator by disregarding labor laws. Regardless of what Duterte does, the labor organizations, especially the allies of the CPP, would never be satisfied. So where do we go from here? Duterte pointed these people to the right direction, to go to Congress and amend our Labor Code.
As for me, my pet peeve was the issue that I've been writing about the fate of casual workers in the government. These people have no security of tenure and their contracts are good for only three months and they have to renew it and ask their political patrons to help them. Now whether their fate is included in the EO that Pres. Duterte just signed, we need to find out if it is.
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