Duterte to certify Security of Tenure bill as urgent instead of EO: Bello

April 19, 2018

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the Palace will certify as "urgent" the Security of Tenure bill pending in Congress instead of announcing an executive order on contractualization on May 1, Labor Day.

“We had a meeting last Friday with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, and after going through three proposed EOs to be signed by the president, that is the consensus instead of the president signing the EO on the issue of contractualization,” said Bello in a press conference Thursday.

“He will instead certify as a priority bill the bill that is now pending in the Senate on security of tenure,” said Bello.

The labor sector has been waiting for an executive order on contractualization after Duterte promised to end contractual work during the campaign period and when he became president.

Duterte asked the workers’ groups to draft an executive order for his office to evaluate.

Asked why Duterte changed his mind, Bello said it is due to possible redundancy of the executive order which is similar to Department Order No. 174 of the labor department,

“Each of the draft EOs are just emphasis of what we have already, which is DO 174,” noted Bello.

He said there is a possibility that the Security of Tenure bill will be passed within the year.

“Once Congress resumes after the barangay elections, that would be a priority bill that will be taken up by the Senate,” said Bello.

The House of Representatives has approved the Security of Tenure Bill in March. One of the features of the bill is Article 295 of the Labor Code on regular employment is amended to prohibit fixed-term employment. A regular employee is one who has been hired for an indefinite period.

Labor groups condemned the decision of Duterte.

“By opting not to issue an executive order and instead leaving it to Congress to address widespread contractualization of labor that has gravely affected workers’ security of tenure and their exercise of other fundamental rights to form unions and collectively bargain, the President has effectively reneged with his campaign promise,” said Partido Manggagawa Chairman Rene Magtubo.

“We strongly condemn President Duterte for making fools out of Filipino workers by refusing to sign an executive order against contractualization as he promised during previous labor dialogues,” said Kilusang Mayo Uno chairman Elmer Labog. DMS