Militant labor hits PDut for ‘false hopes’ on Endo

A progressive labor group in Northern Mindanao will be taking to the streets to express their rage and dismay over the false hopes and failed promises of the Duterte administration on ending contractualization (ENDO) in the country.

The Kilusang Mayo Uno-Northern Mindanao Region (KMUNMR) said they were expecting President Rodrigo Duterte to finally sign an executive order yesterday, April 16, ending labor contractualization.

But the group said this was moved anew to yet another future date, possibly before the Labor Day, May 1.

KMU-NMR secretary general Wildon Barros said the yesterday’s supposed EO signing was the second extension of Duterte’s promise to end contractualization.

“Suko ug nasubo ta kay gi-extend na sad ang pagpirma sa EO (We are angry and disappointed that it was reset),”Barros said.

“Kapila misaad si Presidente Dutere nga tapuson ang ENDO gikan pa sa iyang pagkandidato, hangtud napili na siya – nisaad siya niadtong MAY 1 2017, nasubli pa Marso 2018 ug ang pinakabag-ong petsa nga gitakda mao karung semanaha daw ipagawas ang maong E.O pero nasibog na sab (The president made the promise many times since the election campaign until now),”he added.

Barros said big capitalists and business owners may have appealed to the President not to remove the practice of contractualization.

The labor leader said they will no longer cling to hopes that Duterte will make good on his promise and said they are now set to mobilize workers in the region to join the massive protest action on May 1.

Barros said the Duterte administration seems to play coy on the workers who have long been wanting for security of tenure.

“Padayon kami nga magprotesta. Dili na kami molaom sa saad ni Duterte apan among dad-on sa dalan ang among pakigbisog batok sa contractualization ( We will continue to protest and we will no longer trust Duterte’s promise),”Barrosa said.

“Daw iya lang gidula-dulaan ang mga mamumuo ug gipasaligan nga murag bata nga mao man untay productive force sa labor sector (The Duterte administration seems to be playing with the workers like kids where in fact they are the productive force in the labor sector),”he added.

The group will also continue to lobby their demands through the progressive partylist in the House of Representatives.