Labor department opens contractualization policy to amendments

March 7, 2017

The labor department gave management and labor representatives four more days to deliberate on a draft order on contractualization as it held off signing that order on Tuesday.

At the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council meeting, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III made the announcement.

“We will allow for the amendment. Otherwise, why would wait for the outcome of the dialogue after four days?,” Bello said.

“They are asking to give the labor and management four days to discuss whatever the terms and conditions that they want to involve in this Department Order,” said Bello.

Bello’s comment contrasted with his previous statement the draft order is final and its presentation to the council will not be objected by either party.

“Before I even present it to the NTIPC in the afternoon, we will have signed the DO  already,” Bello said last week.

Bello said laws allow some forms of contractualization, which cannot be prohibited by the labor department.

At least 17 representatives from labor groups and nine from the employers’ sector attended the council summit.

Labor coalition Nagkaisa said the draft DO is unacceptable as it is almost the same as the previous policy on contractualization.

“It is not accordance with what we discussed in the dialogue with the President Duterte, which is to end contractualization and no more agency hires,” said Nagkaisa spokesperson Rene Magtubo.

“If they will still continue with this Department Order, which it is not in line with the instructions of the President, we will hold the mass demonstration and go back to the President and complain him (Bello) for committing insubordination," Magtubo said. DMS