Contractualization in government

Of all the senators, it is Senator Nancy Binay that I least expected to take up the cudgels for the millions of government casuals, job-order workers, contractuals, project-based and fixed-term employees and the so-called consultants who do not have any security of tenure. I expected more from Franklin Drilon who was a former DOLE secretary and justice secretary. But he might have forgotten his prior advocacy, or he might be also employing some of these temporarily-engaged human capital. I also thought Senator Kiko Pangilinan would fight for the less-privileged, having been a staunch UP student leader. But he seems to have changed his interests with Madam Megastar Sharon.

True to the color (no pun intended) of the Binays, Senator Nancy follows the pro-poor, pro-worker lines of her famous dad, who was a street parliamentarian like Rene Saguisag, Joker Arroyo (bless his soul), Butch Aquino (they all followed the footsteps of the venerable Lorenzo "Ka Tanny" Tañada, and Jose W. Diokno). She is now emerging as the protector of the marginalized, the voice of the less-privileged. Senators Grace and Riza are preoccupied with their future political destinies, along with senators Aquino and Gatchalian, and the others. I demand more from Senator Joel Villanueva who is supposed to be the chairman of the Labor Committee in the senate. But he is mysteriously silent nowadays.

There are, today, millions of non-tenured government employees. They do the menial, manual, and heavy work. They clean offices, manage supplies and records, maintain the buildings, man elevators, even run errands for the executives and directors. They even do personal tasks. They act as couriers, messengers, buyers of supplies, drivers, and laborers. Some are encoders, cooks, office and laboratory assistants. They obey without question. They run from here to there, and even render overtime without additional wages. It is high time that their status be enhanced. Senator Nancy should be commended for her bill.

It is quite ironic, if not unjust for government to force private employers to regularize all contractuals, casuals, and seasonal workers in the industries, while exempting itself from its own stringent rules. The Binay Bill, however, must make some adjustments insofar as the local government units are concerned. Not all cities are as rich as Makati, Cebu, and Davao. Not all municipalities are as moneyed as Argao, Dumanjug, or Barili. But in the whole, the security of tenure bill for government workers is a step in the right direction. The budget, however, should be sourced from savings when all corruption shall have been eliminated through President Duterte's tokhang against graft. Kudos to Senator Nancy. That's the way to go.