Duterte says stand vs all forms of contractualization same: Maglungsod

February 28, 2017

A senior officials of the labor department said President Rodrigo Duterte has stood pat on his campaign promise to end to all forms of contractualization.

In an interview, Labor Undersecretary Joel Maglunsod said Duterte had told labor groups during their dialogue last Monday night in Malacanang he has not changed his position.

“The President said that his position has not changed since the campaign trail. He reiterated that he is against all forms of contractualization,” said Maglunsod.

Maglunsod said laws allow some forms of contractualization, and thus it cannot be declared illegal.

“Declaring all forms of contractualization as illegal really needs to pass through Congress. What DOLE can only ascertain is that all minimum requirements for allowed forms of contractualization as provided by law will be followed,” said Maglungsod.

Maglunsod said this means the labor department has the mandate to issue a Department Order (DO) on contractualization. Such an order has been pending since December.

“The President did not give any input for the DO in deference to (DOLE) Secretary (Silvestre) Bello (III). He said he did not want to step on the authority of the Secretary,” said Maglunsod.

Duterte met with labor groups in a three-hour dialogue on contractualization, which is still  unresolved by labor department due to conflicting positions between workers’ and employers’ sectors. DMS