'Anti-people' labor contractualization must go, Duterte says

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, whom Congress is expected to proclaim president-elect once votes cast on May 9 are canvassed, on Sunday described labor contractualization as “anti-people” and vowed to work with Congress to put an end to the practice.

Duterte, who got close to 16 million votes in the recently-concluded elections, said he is not willing to compromise on his position.

“I want to protect the Filipino. I worry about how much you earn. My worry is how to protect the Filipino. There is no compromise,” Duterte said in a press briefing here on Saturday night.

“I don’t care if you will get angry with me but I am not open to a compromise. Contractualization must go. It is anti-people,” he added.

Duterte said he would ask Congress to pass a law if legislation is needed to enforce the prohibition.

“The workers of these country must take the credit. If the difference is P1 million, P2 million or P3 million, let go. If you are earning P20 billion here, then let go of the P2-3 billion,” he added, referring to the additional costs to be shouldered by employers when their workers become regular employees.

Duterte said he would convince businessmen to stop contractualization by providing them adequate protection.

“There will be no more corruption I will protect them. If you are an importer, you (will be) protected from the corrupt. “If I need to sit down at the Customs, I’ll do it,” he said.

Some employers refuse to regularize their employees as it would require them to provide overtime and holiday pay, 13th month pay and social security benefits.

Article XIII, Section II of the 1987 Constitution states that employees are entitled to security of tenure, a living wage and humane working conditions. It also requires the state to “afford full protection to labor, local and overseas, organized and unorganized, and promote full employment and equality of employment opportunities for all.”

During the third presidential debate last April, Duterte said ending contractualization is one of the first things he would do if he wins.

“Immediately, what I will do is I will call the Speaker and the Senate President. I will call the majority, mostly Liberal (Party) Congressman. I will tell them you pass this bill immediately. I need this during the first week of my administration,” Duterte said.

“The moment I assume the presidency, contractualization will stop. We have to stop it,” he added.

In May, Duterte's spokesperson Peter Laviña, however, said that some of the groups from the labor sector that they have met on labor issues do not agree with a full ban on contractualization.