TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional office here reiterated its call to private establishments in Eastern Visayas to put an end to labor contractualization.
Teams have been tasked to visit different establishments urging employers to completely stop contractualization by the end of next year.
For the remaining three months of 2016, the labor department wanted to see 50 percent of workers in the private sector getting regular positions.
“The DOLE is committed to strictly implement the law on the security of tenure and help them enjoy the benefit due for regular workers. Don’t wait for the DOLE to exercise its visitorial power for them to implement the law,” said DOLE regional information officer Virgilio Doroja, Jr.
In response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for businesses to end their engagement with “endo” – short for end of contract, some firms have already expressed their intention to comply the law on security of tenure.
The labor department is primarily focusing on malls, hotels, restaurants, security agencies and department stores where end-of-contract scheme is prevalent.
A big hardware store in this city became the first company in the region to heed the DOLE’s directive to end contractualization.
The Tacloban Ultrasteel Corporation issued on October 5 appointment papers to their 54 workers, enforcing the workers’ right to security of tenure.
Before Pres.Duterte’s pronouncement to end illegitimate contractualization or “endo”, the firm has already regularized its 50 employees.
“This is part of showing our support to the President’s policies. On the part of workers, they will have ownership. They feel that they are part of the business and partners in our growth,” said Maria Teresa Cua, Tacloban Ultrasteel Corp. chief operating officer.
The company, which started operation in 1996, has been considered as one of the largest provider of homebuilding and construction materials, and the first do-it-yourself shop in this city. (SARWELL Q.MENIANO)
