Labor undersecretary vows to address ‘endo’

CEBU, Philippines — Labor Undersecretary Joel Maglunsod has assured to address the issue of contractualization, which undermines workers’ rights to security of tenure, freedom of association, and to bargain collectively.

 "We are addressing the problem of contractualization but di pud ni namo madali-dali. We at DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) are addressing this problem seriously," he said.

He said DOLE understands fully the plights of the workers.

Workers are still clamoring for the fulfillment of the executive's campaign promise to end all forms of labor contractualization.

Labor groups are set to stage a nationwide protest on May 1 in time for the Labor Day celebration to press President Rodrigo Duterte to put an end to contract scheme or “endo.”

Duterte is expected to celebrate Labor Day here.

"We will hold a nationwide protest on May 1 to send a strong signal to this administration's epic fail campaign promises," said Dennis Derige, the spokesperson of Partido Manggagawa (PM)-Cebu.

The Nagkaisa Labor Coalition has also called on other labor groups to close ranks behind “endo,” to launch protest actions, and to convert the Labor Day commemoration as “national day of workers indignation and protest.”

The coalition made the call after Duterte reportedly opted not to issue an executive order to stop endo, saying it’s better to leave the matter to Congress.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque earlier said the position of the Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello was to leave it up to Congress to pass a law instead.

The Palace official said Duterte would now go by the decision of Bello. 

Roque explained that passing a law on endo would be better, saying that “an EO can only do so much.”

Roque had earlier said that Duterte would sign an EO to end contractualization on or before May 1.

Labor Day

Meanwhile, Lawyer Alvin Villamor, DOLE-7 regional director, said job fairs will be done simultaneously in the cities of Cebu and Dumaguete.

There are at least 17,000 job opportunities waiting for the qualified job applicants, said DOLE-7 Information Officer Luchel Taniza.

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation will also be giving away three houses and lots in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to lucky participants.

The 116th year commemoration of Labor Day is observed with the theme "Pagpupugay sa Manggagawang Pilipino: Dangal ng lahi, kabalikat sa progresibong pagbabago.” — KBQ (FREEMAN)