‘Duterte promise to stop endo being watered down, compromised’

Duterte

The National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC)-Formal Labor and Migrant Workers Sector on Tuesday expressed disappointment over the government’s “sudden backpedaling” on President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign promise to stop the unfair practice of labor contractualization in the country, which it said was being addressed through “compromised” solution.

“[One hundred] days passed however, such promise being made seems being watered down by the government. Based on the so-called ‘win-win solution’ being espoused by trade officials during its meeting with employers’ groups, employment through contracting and sub-contracting arrangements must continue in order to be remain competitive amidst globalizing economy,” the NAPC-Formal Labor and Migrant Workers Sector Representative Edwin Bustillos said in a statement.

“The labor sector had enough of [these] precarious working arrangements. It practically denies the workers their basic rights to receive living wage and social benefits, safe working conditions, as well as to form or join trade union of their own choosing,” it added.

The NAPC was reacting to the so-called “win-win situation” that trade and labor officials and business leaders have come up with. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said workers will be hired by service providers and agencies as regulars and will be receiving full benefits, while companies have the flexibility to either directly hire workers as regular employees or outsource them through service agencies in case of seasonal jobs.

But the NAPC called for a new and urgent policy on employment relationship “which will protect workers from exploitation,” saying that it was the only solution to end the “vicious cycle of poverty.”