CEBU, Philippines - The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) is strongly pushing for the total prohibition instead of just regulating contractualization of workers.
This is the challenge raised by TUCP officials led by party-list Representative Raymond Democrito Mendoza to Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello in a press conference held in Cebu City recently.
"Now is the time for Secretary of Labor to use the power vested upon him by law to correct a longstanding injustice against Filipino workers," said TUCP in a statement.
TUCP pointed out that since the passage of the Labor Code in 1974 which allowed contracting and subcontracting under Articles 106 to 109, government regulation through the issuance of various department orders (DOs) by the DOLE has failed to protect the workers from abuse and exploitation brought about by contracting and subcontracting.
TUCP also opposed the DOLE's draft order, saying it will still perpetuate contractualization.
Under the draft order, all the necessary or directly related jobs or functions in a company's business cannot be contracted-out. However, the draft also allows seasonal and project employees to continue to be non-regular workers.
"Also, the draft DO will still allow the trilateral relationship in workplaces which paved the way for the numerous practices that exploit and oppress our workers for far too long now," TUCP said.
TUCP has called on President Rodrigo Duterte to keep his campaign promise to end contractualization.
They want the President to issue an Executive Order and certify Mendoza's proposed House Bill No. 4444 which they consider an urgent measure that will prohibit all forms of contractualization and fixed-term employment.
Mendoza said there are around 15 similar bills with different versions that have been filed in Congress. (FREEMAN)