Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.聽INQUIRER FILE /LYN RILLON
A militant labor group on Sunday praised presidential aspirant Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for opposing the 鈥渃ontractualization鈥� of private and public employees.
Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) said that they were also expecting other presidential aspirants to follow Duterte鈥檚 lead.
鈥淲e are glad that Duterte has taken a pro-worker stand on one of the most important workers鈥� issues. We dare other presidential aspirants to also denounce this employment scheme which has meant a wholesale violation of workers鈥� rights,鈥� KMU chair Elmer Labog said in a statement.
鈥淐ontractualization violates workers鈥� rights to a living wage, to job security, and to the free exercise of trade-union rights, it should be banned. It is a scheme that allows capitalists, especially the big ones, to amass huge profits by attacking workers鈥� rights,鈥� Labog added.
The Philippines has adopted the Herrera law which permits companies to hire employees in a contract-only mode of employment.
Labog claims that under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III, the Department of Labor and Employment issued guidelines for contractualization through Department Order No. 18-A Series of 2011.
In a recent statement, Duterte slammed contractualization, saying that he would聽put an end to it should he be elected as president.
He cautioned that the long-term effect of that policy would聽destroy the country鈥檚 work force and sow instability due to lack of job security.