Presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Sunday assured workers he will “fine-tune” the Security of Tenure Bill which seeks to end labor contractualization if he wins in the May 9 elections.
“Prioritizing workers’ protection – I think that’s the way to go. I could see the Security of Tenure law as a vehicle not only for the security of tenure concept, but also for all of these other issues like health and safety, wage board, and the protections that we are pushing that are not being followed,” he said during a Labor Day town hall meeting with members of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines in Quezon City.
“We hope to amend, rewrite, and fine-tune the Security of Tenure bill for its passage because if I get elected as president, I will definitely sign it if the new version is good,” Marcos added.
TUCP earlier endorsed the candidacies of Marcos and his running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Stopping the “endo” or end of contract practice was Duterte’s campaign promises in 2016.
The President, however, vetoed the anti-endo bill in 2019, saying the version submitted by Congress “unduly broadens the scope and definition of prohibited labor-only contracting, effectively prescribing forms of contractualization that are not particularly unfavorable to employees involved.”
Duterte’s acting spokesman, Secretary Martin Andanar, said the President was calling on Congress to rectify the vetoed provisions of the Security of Tenure bill.
Employers said it will be difficult for the government to stop “endo” because many industries have come to thrive using this scheme.
Meanwhile, Marcos said he was also open to proposals to reduce the workweek into four days for as long as employees are amenable to it.
This as some business process outsourcing firms were reportedly forcing their employees to go on a four-day workweek.
“If that is what employers want, that’s okay, but the workers have to agree and should not be forced,” Marcos said.
National Economic and Development Authority chief Karl Chua earlier proposed a four-day workweek to conserve energy and ease the public’s expenses amid the series of big time oil price hikes.