Labor official warns Palawan establishments against contractualization

The Department of Labor and Employment ( DOLE) said this week most commercial establishments in Palawan have yet to comply with the administration’s outstand ing order calling for regularization of their workers. DOLE Regional Director Joel Gonzales, during a dialogue with hotel owners this week, also warned the private sector the government itself will enforce the regularization policy if it fails to implement their department’s order. He said they are at present monitoring the compliance of establishments and vowed they will go after noncompliant establishments. DOLE Secretary Silvestre has issued an advisory ( Labor Advisory No. 06 series of 2017) calling for the regularization of the workers as a part their effort in abolishing unlawful contractual arrangements. He said that if the establishments are found out to be noncompliant, they can impose compu lsory regularization. “Kung hindi nagcomp ly, enforcement na ang mangyayari, hindi na voluntary kung hindi compulsory,” he said. He added that their compliance order shall become final and executory within 10 days from the failure of the business to comply with the order, based on the DOLE’s order. While noting that most establishments have not yet complied with DOLE advisory, he also added that majority have expressed support to their campaign. “Nag-commit naman sila to support the call of the president ( Rodrigo Duterte) and Secretary ( Silvestre) Bello. We advocated to explain to them kung ano ‘ yong working arrangements sa regularization ng mga workers,” he said. He also noted that violations of the regulation policy are most common in the tourism sector. “Gawin ninyong regular ang manggagawa o kung hindi kayo legitimate na contractor or company, huminto na kayo, ” he added. He said the DOLE- MIMAROPA will conduct followup inspections of establishments in May.