Manila, Philippines — After receiving flak for his proposal to extend the employment probationary period from six months to two years, Probinsyano Ako party-list Rep. Jose Singson Jr. has expressed openness to revise the measure.
“The bill will be tackled during committee hearings in Congres. If there are proposals to improve the measure, I will welcome them as long as we extend the six-month probation period to address automatic termination of workers,” Singson said in an interview with Cignal TV’s “The Chiefs” on Tuesday night.
He called on all stakeholders to hear every position on House Bill 4802, saying the current period is not sufficient for an employer to determine if a worker is qualified for regular employment.
“Under the existing law, there has been massive termination of workers across all industries. A majority of workers are terminated while under probation,” Singson pointed out. “By extending the six-month probation period, employers will have the opportunity to evaluate probationary workers better and prevent early termination.”
Although the bill was rejected by the labor sector, Singson said there are legislators who have aired their support for the measure.
He maintained that the intention of the bill is to ensure the workers’ right to security of tenure.
The mass termination of probationary workers is enough justification for the immediate passage of the proposed measure, according to Singson.
He said around 500,000 workers lose their jobs because of the existing law prescribing six-month probation period.
“Let us give workers a chance to earn a living instead of being terminated after six or five months of employment,” Singson said.
He pointed out that workers can be regularized and promoted without waiting for the maximum two-year probation period.
Federation of Free Workers vice president Julius Cainglet doubts that Singson’s proposal would stop illegal end of contract or “endo” scheme.