Endo eliminated by 2017: Dole

THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) remained committed to intensify their efforts of transforming all contractual workers to be regularized through strengthening their enforcement campaign despite criticisms about this campaign, an official said.

Labor Undersecretary Dominador Say said in his remarks during the 6th Mindanao Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) yesterday that Dole will maintain its stand as this is a specific directive of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“As President Duterte vowed that his administration will protect the worker’s security of tenure, in this regard, Dole is committed to strictly and equitably implement the law to security of tenure and will use the full extent of its regulatory and enforcement power to stop or prevent practices that circumvent it,” Say said.

He shared that in two months since their drive have launched, they have already spearheaded the regularization of 16,000 employees nationwide.

“Never before, it is only now that we are seeing this phenomenon and more employees will be regularized as the months go by,” he said.

Say reiterated that

they are on track in reducing “endo” by 50 percent this year and abolishing it by the year 2017, adding that it is the “cherished right” of the workers to have security of tenure.

Dole 11 Assistant regional director Atty. Jason P. Balais for his part reiterated that as early as 1995, the Supreme Court has already said that “555” work arrangement is circumvention on security of tenure.

“We at Dole 11, has seen no reason why these employees are hired in a 5 months, 5 months basis. This is not the purpose of the security of tenure guarantee under the Labor code of the Constitution,” he said.

“We are firm on our stand, endo has to end,” he added.

He also clarified that there are legitimate and illegal forms of contractualization, and Endo is considered illegal, thus, the need to eradicate this illegal practice.

Of equal concern, Dole said is the right of employee to be protected against work-related injuries and illnesses.

“Occupational safety and health is non-negotiable, and our labor law compliance officers are under strict order to enforce occupational Safety and Health standards,” he said. JCR