MAKABAYAN bloc lawmakers yesterday refiled a bill banning all forms of contractualization, particularly the illegal practice of “endo” or end of contract, one of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign promises when he ran for the country’s top post in 2016.
Rep. Arlene Brosas (PL, Gabriel) led the militant bloc in filing House Bill No. 2173 or the proposed Security of Tenure Law, which also seeks to prohibit direct hiring of contractual workers.
Under House Bill 2173, job contracting, subcontracting, direct-hiring of contractuals, and use of labor cooperatives are expressly prohibited with hefty fines and imprisonment.
“With HB 2173, we are seeking to absolutely end any vestige of contractualization which was first institutionalized under Marcos Sr.’s 1974 Labor Code under Articles 106 to 109.
Hamon kay (Presidente) Marcos Jr. na alisin na ang sumpa ng kontraktwalisasyon sa mga manggagawa (It’s a challenge for (President) Marcos to remove this curse on workers).
Regular jobs and security of tenure should be the norm rather than the exception,” said Brosas.
HB 2173 prohibits job contracting or what is currently called “lawful” contractualization, and in effect does away with the registration of contractors as allowed by the Labor Code and by the issuances of the labor department.
The measure also prohibits the direct hiring of contractuals by principal employers, subcontracting, fixed term employment, and the use of labor cooperatives.
Brosas said the fine being proposed for violators under the bill is up to P10 million or an imprisonment of up to three years for employers and job contractors “because contractualization must be treated as a crime.”
She said job contracting has prevented workers from receiving decent wages and benefits, and has stripped them of their right to join and organize unions.
Camarines Sur Reps. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, Miguel Luis Villafuerte and Tsuyoshi Anthony Horibata and Bicol Saro Rep. Nicolas Enciso VIII filed House Bill (HB) No. 304 which seeks to accord workers in the media industry security of tenure, hazard and overtime pay, mandatory additional insurance coverage and other job-related benefits enjoyed by regular employees in both the government and private sectors.
The proposed “Media Workers’ Welfare Act” aims to “guarantee the rights of media workers to self-organization and additional economic benefits due them in their profession; and to create a safe, protected atmosphere conducive to their productive, free and fruitful work.
“Media workers risk their own lives being exposed to the perils and hazards outdoors just so we can receive our needed information. It is unfortunate that the very same people behind it are usually the ones whose labor rights are ignored, such as those pertaining to security of tenure, hazard pay, night shift differential pay and overtime pay, among others,” the bill said.
Under HB 304, media workers in entry-level positions shall receive the minimum monthly compensation determined by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) or the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs), depending on which applies in each case.
A News Media Tripartite Council being proposed in the bill may change or increase the minimum hazard pay.
